Joel Embiid defends himself against Philadelphia sports media, and he’s 100% right

Joel Embiid spoke to the media after practice today and offered some eye-opening responses. The Sixers star was asked about his injury status and the decision to miss games to start the year and launched into an impassioned answer about his injury history, contributions to the team, and the treatment he receives for the media in Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid did not mince words when talking about how the media in this town treats him:

“When I see people saying, he doesn’t want to play, I’ve done way too much for this city putting myself at risk for people to be saying that. I do think it’s bullshit. Like that dude, he’s not here, Marcus, I’ve done way too much for this fucking city to be treated like this.” pic.twitter.com/n1Z9of1F6v

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) November 1, 2024

Here’s the thing, folks. He’s right. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone be more right in my entire life.

Embiid has been synonymous with the 76ers franchise for the last decade. He’s battled injuries every season. He’s been phenomenal in the playoffs when he’s on the floor, and every iteration of his supporting cast has let him down time and time again.

I’m not saying this out of some blind love for Joel Embiid, although I do love him for all that he’s done for basketball in this city. I just have the eyes and the critical thinking skills to understand that the way he’s treated by the media and the league as a whole is patently unfair.

For people saying Joel Embiid doesn’t want to play, you’re complete idiots. And I mean that, you are. If he truly didn’t want to play we wouldn’t have seen him hobble down the court against the Knicks this year. He could have easily said fuck it and sat out, but he didn’t.

But he didn’t. And yet, some very stupid people are still doubting his commitment to the game. It’s genuinely mind boggling.

Fans I can forgive. They’re normal people. But what really riles me up is “respected” members of the media peddling these bullshit narratives. They have all the access and information they could ask for, and yet still find new and infuriating ways to put down someone that has carried the Sixers on his back for a decade with pretty much zero thanks.

Let me be very clear. Marcus Hayes is a coward. Invoking the name of Joel’s dead brother and his son when talking about him missing games is genuinely disgusting. I write some really stupid stuff on this website, but even I know that is going way too far.

So, yes, Joel Embiid has done way too fucking much for this team and this city to be treated like this.

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