Joel Embiid struck a surprising tone after the Philadelphia 76ers’ season ended with a 144-114 loss to the New York Knicks last Sunday.
Philadelphia were swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals, extending a familiar wait for a franchise still chasing its first conference finals appearance since 2001.
Yet Embiid said the season was a success for him, because he entered it unsure about his knee, his availability, and whether he could play consistently.
Paul Pierce hits back at Joel Embiid’s 76ers comments
Paul Pierce, a Hall of Fame forward and former NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, did not accept Embiid’s framing of Philadelphia’s exit.
Speaking on the No Fouls Given show, Pierce said: “That’s Philly, they have low expectations there. Like, if somebody from Boston would have said that… They would never say that.
“Philly doesn’t have the same expectations as Boston because they were picked to lose and then they won, and then got swept.
“So, if they feel like that’s your leadership, and if that’s your expectations, that’s your ceiling in Philly, then go ahead and do that, because we don’t do that in the franchises I played for,” he concluded.
Joel Embiid’s 76ers future remains under scrutiny
Embiid’s future became a talking point again after the second round elimination.
However, he is still tied to a major long-term contract, which makes any quick separation complicated despite growing debate around the team’s direction.
According to ESPN’s Briand Windhorst, he is not expected to leave. The center will likely star and strengthen the younger core being built around Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe.
