76ers center Joel Embiid spoke to reporters in the aftermath of the team’s playoff exit on Sunday, and the league’s MVP appeared to have a message for his supporting cast.
After criticizing his own play, Embiid urged his teammates to provide more help for himself and James Harden, saying that Philadelphia’s star tandem “can’t win alone.”
“It’s going to take more than us. We all got to look at ourselves. I’ve got to be better and I will be better. That’s what I’m focused on. All of us, we’ve got to come back and find ways to just keep improving and help the team,” said Embiid. “Me and James, we just can’t win alone. That’s why basketball is played five-on-five. We just need everybody to try to keep finding ways to get better, and we’ll be fine.”
"Me and James, we just can't win alone. That's why basketball is played five-on-five."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 14, 2023
Joel Embiid following the Game 7 loss pic.twitter.com/Rrku0qwQnU
Embiid’s comments came on the heels of a disappointing 15-point performance in the decisive Game 7. He and Harden combined for just 24 points, while Celtics star Jayson Tatum set a Game 7 record with 51 points, as the 76ers were blown out, 112–88.
The team had the chance to shut the door on the Celtics in Game 6 on Thursday on their home court, but ultimately failed to do so, suffering a 95–86 defeat during which the game slipped out of reach during the final minutes. Embiid had 26 points and 10 rebounds in that game, and averaged 25.5 points throughout the series.
Following his playoff exit, however, Embiid was honest with assessment of the Sixers’ squad, calling for himself and Harden, who faces an uncertain future in Philadelphia, to get more assistance.
