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Joel Embiid knew the tough times on a Philadelphia 76ers uniform would come sooner or later. More importantly, he was well aware that once they did, the media would try to divide him and his co-star Ben Simmons.
The two stars have been analyzed with a microscope the past few months as the Sixers appear to be a shell of what their potential suggests.
Via Andrew Potter of 94 WIP Sports Radio:
Article Continues Below“A few years ago I predicted it. I said, and I'm sure if you go back to the archives and stuff you could see it, I predicted that the media were the ones — with my social media and Ben — that would go and try to drive us apart,” Embiid told ESPN's Rachel Nichols. “So at the end of the day, we know what we got to do. I love him, I love playing with him. He's a special talent. He helps us a lot, so I think we can accomplish something special.”
Two weeks ago, Chris Broussard went on Fox Sports 1's The Herd with Colin Cowherd to report there was jealousy between Simmons and Embiid.
.@Chris_Broussard reports the Sixers locker room issue seems to be jealousy between Simmons and Embiid. 😳 pic.twitter.com/soClZtDqgO
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) February 6, 2020
That only drew the microscope that much closer, as analysts looked at body language, handshakes (or lack thereof), and the Sixers' All-Star duo's overall interactions in games and practices.
This rift is only taking place because the Sixers aren't winning as expected. The speculation could quickly go away if Embiid and Simmons get on a roll and propel the Sixers to a higher seed than fifth in the East, something that was already expected of them after bolstering their roster this summer with the additions of Al Horford and Josh Richardson as well as swinging deals to fortify the Sixers bench with some shooters in Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks.
