After Joel Embiid’s performance against The Nets in the first game back from the All-Star break (39 pts – 16 reb – 6 ast – 2 blk – 2 stl). Here’s what the national media is running with:

There has been a million bad, inaccurate, and sometimes just completely made up stories about Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid this season. And for whatever reason, it’s STILL happening.

Here’s a quote from Kurt’s article above:

There is no consensus, but league execs think that if the Sixers do explore a trade, Embiid is more likely to be moved — health being the determining factor in building around Simmons.

So no consensus, no proof, no names, just “league execs think. How can someone who’s a lead writer for NBA division NBC Sports think this is anything close to real journalism? It’s mind-boggling.

Kurt isn’t the only one. Multiple reports on both a national and local level have questioned the relationship between Ben and Joel – and ultimately what the Sixers expect to do with them. Just to name a few:

• The Bleacher Report
• Max Kellerman
• Anyone on First Take
• Our very own Philadelphia Inquirer
• That Scrub Kendrick Perkins
• Pretty much everyone on WIP Sports Radio in Philadelphia.

I’m not posting any links to their shit but if you Google anything close to “Ben Simmons Joel Embiid” it will all be front page. Not everyone is wrapped up in the bullshit. T-Shirt legends (my company) DSGN Tree gets it:

Fellow Liners We The Process know:

And Victor Williams, also a fellow Liner, wrote a whole piece about it:

There’s no accountability and quite honestly, the sources are sketchy at best.

The way Ben and Joel handled themselves at the all-star festivities was nothing short of amazing, on and off the court. Even in a recent interview with Rachel Nichols – Embiid predicted the media would turn on him and Ben:

Honestly, I’m over it. It seems like Joel and Ben are too. Why anyone would want to break up two of the best young talents in the league, this early, is beyond me. Let them grow into what we expect them to be. Generational talents and championship winners.

Like Vic said in his article. “It’s Philly vs Everybody” (Literally).