Latest news with #Philadelphia76ers'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Charles Barkley, great player' - Veteran Joel Embiid rejects ring as a parameter of player's greatness in NBA
Veteran Joel Embiid rejects ring as a parameter of player's greatness in NBA (Image Credit: Getty Images) Do rings determine the greatness of a player? Joel Embiid addressed this question in a recent interview with ESPN. The Philadelphia 76ers' veteran did not go with the idea of rings as a determinant of a player's greatness. Citing the classic example of Charles Barkley , he said that the legend is great despite the fact that he never won a ring. Joel Embiid also shared how he has grown as a leader. He attributed his leadership style to personal struggles and said that his game does all the talking for him. Joel Embiid doesn't consider ring a parameter of greatness Joel Embiid's trainer Drew Hanlen on the NBA's 65-game rule, ring culture & Nikola Jokic vs. Embiid Philadelphia 76ers' veteran Joel Embiid sat down for an interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye. Hard to crack always, but he showed his different side and spoke at length on various issues, including ring culture. Is ring a correct determiner of success? He firmly rejected this narrative, saying: 'No one is a winner until they've done it. I'm fine with that narrative because I haven't done it. Charles Barkley, great player, right? But he never won. [Allen Iverson] never won. ... But that doesn't mean they weren't great. They were amazing.' Joel Embiid, the NBA MVP for 2022-2023, considers his contribution to the team as a real indicator of greatness in basketball. When asked to comment on media narratives that said he cared too much about individual awards, he refuted it right away, saying: "If you are in a position to win an MVP, I don't care who you are, you're going after it because I never believed I would be in this position, first of all. Second of all, when I got in the league, I thought, 'Yeah, maybe I'll have a chance to be a great defensive player.' I never thought I was going to be this good offensively." He further said, "You're basically saying that he's playing harder in the regular season than he's playing in the playoffs, which doesn't make sense because if you look at the minutes, the minutes rise. And you're playing harder. And you do more on both ends of the floor." Joel Embiid explained evolution in his leadership style Joel Embiid also talked about people's perception of him as a leader. He said that the perception is changing with time. Talking about how his leadership has evolved, he said: 'If you ask my teammates now, they'll tell you a way different story than my teammates a couple of years ago, because years ago, I was nowhere to be found.' He shared that he proved his supremacy on the hardwood with his play. The one-time MVP is often seen on the bench due to injuries, which have often limited his appearances. A lack of consistency has pushed him back to the queue of great players. According to him, it is a player's luck and health that guides the capability to deliver in terms of minutes and numbers. Joel Embiid addressed allegations of being an excuse maker In the same interview, he also addressed various media narratives floating around him. One of the most controversial ones was that he makes excuses. Sharing his viewpoint on the same, he said: 'It's not making excuses. When you're hurt every year and everybody knows it, it's the truth," he says. "Now, do you believe, if he was 100 percent, does he have what it takes to have a chance at winning? I think a lot of people believe that because I've shown it in the regular season when I was healthy." He continued, "What if I did this and I was like, 'You know what? I'm just going to chill all season and coast and average 25? Or 20.' And in the playoffs, I go average 30. Would that make me look great? Probably. If I went from averaging 23 to 30 -- a playoff riser. Oh, my God. Joel Jordan. Whatever.' Joel Embiid Reacts to Emotional MVP Speech, Celtics vs. 76ers Series & James Harden Message He further said, "The Brooklyn series two years ago is a perfect example. Double me everywhere. Half court, as soon as I had the ball, that coach was like, 'Go get it.' And guess what? I was fine with it because we kicked the ball out, we made shots, and we won. But guess what it did? It lowered the stats. "So, if that's the narrative that's out there, I'm OK with that because I know what I'm going through and I know what's going on. And no one is in my body to understand what I'm going through." Joel Embiid has averaged 27.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.7 assists from 452 games played in his career. He is known for exceptional defense and experience. The 76ers' star appeared at 66th position in Bleacher Report's NBA All-time Top Players list. Also Read: James Harden and Joel Embiid No Longer on Speaking Terms Following 76ers Split - Deep NBA Shortcomings Revealed Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joel Embiid Provides Revealing Update On 76ers Return
The Philadelphia 76ers' upcoming season will hinge on the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George. With George undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after suffering an injury during a recent offseason workout, attention is now turning to Embiid's timeline to return from his own knee injury. Embiid played in just 19 games last season after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee the previous year. He would rush back for the playoffs in Philadelphia's series loss to the New York Knicks. Even though he played for Team USA at the Summer Olympics and won a gold medal, Embiid wasn't ready for the start of the 2024-25 year. He was not right for most of the season and was eventually shut down in February. Embiid would then end up undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April. Last week, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told reporters he was optimistic that Embiid would return for the start of training camp in September, despite the seven-time All-Star having yet to start basketball-related activities. In a wide-ranging interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, Embiid provided an update on his recovery. 'We're not going to push anything,' Embiid said. 'For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach.' He added: 'We don't have a timeline. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.' With Embiid using a patient approach to his recovery instead of rushing back like he previously has, he told Akintoye that he doesn't know if the 76ers organization will support it. 'I don't know how they feel. The only thing I'd say is — this is a business,' Embiid said. 'It's all about the results. … If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games.' Since getting drafted third overall in 2014, Embiid has missed nearly 50% of regular season games, including his first two years in the league. Related Headlines Caitlin Clark's Brother Points Direct Finger for His Sister's Injuries Roster Bubble: 5 NFL Veterans Fighting for Their Jobs in 2025 76ers Put Intern in Charge of Rookie Joel Embiid's Rehab While He Pleaded for Help on Ailing Foot Washington Commanders' Star Thinking of Skipping Training Camp
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Philadelphia 76ers' perfect outcome for No. 3 pick in 2025 NBA Draft
The post Philadelphia 76ers' perfect outcome for No. 3 pick in 2025 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints. For one reason or another, Daryl Morey really wants to make it seem like the Philadelphia 76ers could do anything with the third-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Advertisement Now granted, part of that is likely strategic, as after watching the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs effectively close shop and lock in on their selections, Morey now holds the finest piece that could theoretically be moved before Adam Silver puts their pick on the clock. While he might want to select a player with the pick and may even do so, his phone will remain on, with 29 other teams able to place their best offers on the table, whether that be for players, picks, or a combination of the two. Could some team panic and offer up a package that's too good to be true? Could a general manager offer up a young player for a simple move back, or include a selection in the future along with one this year for a chance to select the player they deem is, at worst, the third-best player in this year's class? That feels possible, but frankly, it's unlikely; considering the 76ers' cap situation, with three max players on their roster and a few more quality performers who could be paid handsomely like Quentin Grimes, they need cost-controlled contributors who can play at a high level without breaking the bank, all the while forming a new foundation for the future. Can the 76ers still win with Joel Embiid? Yes, they most likely can, but for how long? Will he remain effective for the duration of his current contract? Or will Philadelphia be strapped with one of the largest dead money figures of any team in the NBA while still trying to compete without a notable portion of their salary cap? Advertisement For better or worse, the 76ers need to leave the 2025 NBA Draft with a player who can be a foundational piece moving forward, and they will almost certainly select a player of that caliber at pick 3. But that doesn't necessarily mean they are guaranteed to land Ace Bailey, who is widely considered the third-best player in this year's class – unless Paul George is asked. No, the best-case scenario for the 76ers would be for Dylan Harper to drop to them at pick No. 3, with the Spurs opting to land a natural frontcourt partner for Victor Wembanyama while Morey lands his next great combo guard of the future. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Dylan Harper could be Daryl Morey's next James Harden If there's one player Morey has loved more than seemingly any other over the course of his NBA executive career, it's James Harden. Advertisement Originally acquiring the third overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft for Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin, and a collection of draft picks, Harden went from a perennial Sixth Man of the Year contender to a certified face of the franchise under Morey's watch, earning hundreds of millions of dollars, scoring titles, All-Star selections, and an MVP for the 2017-18 season. Morey built his roster around Harden's talents and even went out of his way to acquire the Arizona State product when he moved to Philadelphia, bringing the genuine article to the city with his massive painting resided. Ultimately, things didn't work out between Harden and Morey the second time around, but would he be interested in bringing in a player like Dylan Harper, who has a game that looks a lot like old Harden and modern Harden all rolled up in a 19-year-old package? Would he opt to select the Rutgers guard despite already having a pair of quality backcourt options in Tyrese Maxey and McCain, who can only really play in the backcourt? Considering his size, handle, shot, and personality, it's safe to say that would be Morey's dream situation. Standing 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, it's hard not to fall in love with Harper's game. Like Harden, Harper is a master of funky footwork, using Eurosteps and stepbacks to get away from defenders and set up his own shot. While he isn't an elite 3-point shooter, hitting just 33.3 percent of his attempts on 5.2 attempts per game, he projects as a more prolific shooter in the future, with his clean shot and ability to operate off and on the ball making him all the more effective. Driving to the basket, Harper's eyes are his best asset, with an ability to attack holes with ease while keeping an eye open for his teammates, as his four assists per game clearly proves. Advertisement Would it be weird to see Harper added to such a loaded backcourt? Maybe so, especially considering how hard a time Philadelphia has had finding a young power forward to build around for, well, forever, but Harden played major minutes with Chris Paul and Eric Gordon on the court with him- 637 minutes in 2018-19, to be exact – and Philadelphia could do the same if they landed Harper, with Maxey, McCain, and Grimes all good enough off-ball movers to make things interesting. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Dylan Harper, not Ace Bailey could be the 76ers' new face On paper, Bailey is the cleaner fit on the 76ers now and in the future. In 2025, he could be Philly's Game 1 starter at small forward, with Maxey and Grimes in the frontcourt, George and Embiid also in the frontcourt, and McCain coming off the bench with Gerson Yabuseli and Kelly Oubre as the top reserves, assuming everyone is re-signed. He can play up the lineup at power forward, slide down to shooting guard in big looks, and build into the kind of wing player every team is looking for in 2025, assuming he takes better shots and learns to move the ball around instead of being such a black hole. Advertisement Harper, by contrast, makes things harder, as he'd likely have to play shooting guard, if not small forward, in lineups where he is the third-tallest player next to some combination of Maxey, McCain, and Grimes. His defensive assignments would be much harder, which isn't exactly his strength at this point in time, and the 76ers won't be able to hide him like the Spurs, as they simply don't have enough two-way players to make his life easier. With that in mind, Maxey has been at his best when playing alongside a passing point guard like Harden, who set him up for his most efficient professional season. While McCain may be able to unlock Maxey in the same way this fall, he came into the NBA as a combo guard too, and was injured so early in the season that he and the Kentucky guard only played 248 minutes of action together over a 16-game sample size. Could Harper be his long-term partner? Could the 76ers place the three guards together and see who earns the top spots, trading away the 'loser' for a better-fitting performer? No matter which Rutgers player is available at pick No. 3, the Philadelphia 76ers will likely run their selection up to bring him to the City of Brotherly Love. But it's hard to argue that Morey would rather that player be Bailey over Harper, as, at the end of the day, the latter could become the next face of the 76ers in a way that his teammate is simply unlikely to match. Related: 76ers news: Shaq, Joel Embiid among NBA stars to wish Allen Iverson happy 50th birthday Related: Bill Simmons brainstorms Paul George for Lauri Markkanen 76ers-Jazz trade
Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
NBA Finals an ‘amazing' showcase for basketball, says stars Tyrese Maxey and Derrick White
Philadelphia 76ers' All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey (right) at the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp in Singapore on June 22. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE – As the tension builds ahead of the decider for the National Basketball Association title, the drama of the Finals has left little doubt that the game is in a good place, said NBA stars Derrick White and Tyrese Maxey. The duo are gushing with pride as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers battle for glory on June 22 (June 23, Singapore time) at the Paycom Centre after a close battle in the best-of-seven series. Philadelphia 76ers' All-Star guard Maxey said: 'I feel like the play-offs this year has been amazing, honestly, second to none. This Finals series has been amazing for basketball. 'I think Oklahoma City and Indiana have really showed the world a different way of basketball, a different way how things can go. So I'm very appreciative of them for that, and I'm excited to see who wins the game.' White, who helped the Boston Celtics win the 2024 title, added: 'For the Finals, it's been great. I don't know what's going to happen in Game 7. Anything can happen, and these are two teams that play hard and play the right way. And so it's definitely been a good Finals.' The pair are in town alongside Portland Trail Blazers centre Duop Reath, and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) legend Ticha Penicheiro, for the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia camp, which is part of the global basketball development and community outreach programme of International Basketball Federation (Fiba) and the NBA. Both Maxey and White agreed with the assessment of NBA icon and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who said at the Fanatics Fest in New York on June 21 that 'the game of basketball is the best it's ever been'. White, 30, said: 'Obviously the league, the talent, all the players, are having a lot of fun. It's in a good spot, and it's a lot of fun to be a part of it.' The Boston Celtics' Derrick White (right) at the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp on June 22. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Maxey, 24, noted how the play-offs have seen several players step up, with the Pacers' offensive depth a big factor in their run to the Finals. 'There are a lot of different players that can do a lot of different things. I read a stat about Indiana, that they have seven or eight players who had 15 or more (points) in the play-offs. That's amazing. That means (on) any given night, somebody could go off and somebody could score the ball, and somebody can impact the game. So I feel like that's where the game is going. 'The teams that are going to go out there and try to find depth are going to be very successful.' In the Game 6 win over the Thunder on June 19, the Pacers had six players score in double figures, and in the six games in the Finals, the Pacers have had four players lead the team in scoring – Pascal Siakam in Games 1, 4 and 5, Tyrese Haliburton in Game 2, Bennedict Mathurin in Game 3 and Obi Toppin in Game 6. The Pacers are also the first team in NBA history to have eight players score over 200 points each in a single postseason run. Besides Maxey and White, a group of assistant coaches, including Jared Dudley from Dallas Mavericks, Ronald Nored (Atlanta Hawks), Vinay Bhavnani (Toronto Raptors), and Khalid Robinson (Golden State Warriors) are in Singapore for the four-day basketball camp from June 19 to 22 at the Singapore Basketball Centre. The camp, featuring 30 boys and 30 girls aged 17 and under from 17 countries and territories, is part of a festival that will culminate with the NBA Rising Stars Invitational from June 25 to 29. One of the Singaporean participants, Tricia Lau, 17, cited the eye-opening experience of playing with the best players and learning from them. She said: 'I learnt that we have a lot to work on – like energy levels are super important. And every single person has their own role on the court and everyone cannot be stagnant and everyone has to do something. 'On court, I learnt we need to be more confident in ourselves. We have to have the confidence to take players on one-on-one and be more selfish with the ball. I also learnt that although I'm not able to contribute much on the offensive side, as long as I play my role defensively, I can contribute a lot to the team. ' BWB graduates who eventually found their way to the NBA include the current Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, and Maxey's teammate Joel Embiid. Centre Embiid, who struggled with multiple injuries as the 76ers missed the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 season, played in only 19 games while forward Paul George, only featured in 41 games in an injury-riddled debut season with the Sixers. So it is no wonder that Maxey's answer to what his team need next season is short and sweet. 'I think we got to be healthy, really healthy, (then) we have a chance,' he said. The Celtics also have injury issues to contend with for next season as they are likely to be without leading scorer Jayson Tatum, who had surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference semi-finals before the team were eliminated by the New York Knicks. When asked how big a blow Tatum's absence would be to their title ambitions, White said: 'Honestly, losing JT, it's tough, but he's going to do everything he can to get better, get back playing with us whenever he's able to... but that's the expectation (to compete for the title) every time you put on that uniform.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'This has been the best 50 years of my life'- Allen Iverson's mother pens an emotional birthday post for the 76ers icon
Philadelphia 76ers' talented star Allen Iverson is one of those prominent NBA personalities who went on to influence a generation of basketball athletes with his cultural impact and athletic prowess of the widely loved sport. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now One of the most celebrated stars in the history of the NBA, Iverson just achieved a milestone in his life after turning 50 recently. His mother posted a heart-touching post on social media and his fans and followers cannot stop talking about it. NBA icon Allen Iverson's mother pens a heart-melting post for his 50th birthday One of the most influential NBA stars Allen Iverson just celebrated his 50th birthday. The Philadelphia 76ers' alum's mother Ann shared a glimpse of their small party held for the basketball legend on social media. According to the shared clip the room was filled with gold, black and silver balloons along with huge cutouts of AI, 50 and Chuck across the room. Ann Iverson wrote a heart-touching message for her athlete son on the occasion of his 50th birthday on Instagram. Her post mentioned- 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST 50 YEARS OF MY LIFE. THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVE YOU SHOWN ME IN MY LIFETIME…KEEP THE PARTY GOING GOD BLESS YOU SON…LATER HE DID IT 50 …WHAT A BLESSING THIS IS JUNE 7, THE BIG FIVE O! MOMMY LOVES HER SOME YOU.' Allen Iverson took to Instagram and shared a message for his mother and as well as his fans and followers in a humble way for sending his lovely birthday messages. He wrote- 'Thank God for blessing me with another year. Thank you to my family, friends, and fans that, ride with me through these turbulent times we all live in. Thanks for all the Birthday wishes. Happy 50th to Me!!' Despite being a globally renowned NBA legend, Allen Iverson is quite popular for his humble and down to earth nature. From diverting all the spotlights towards himself due to his exemplary performance to influencing a generation of basketball athletes, Iverson is so much more beyond the basketball court and NBA. Also Read:
