The Philadelphia 76ers are now on the brink of undergoing a major change in terms of the franchise's ownership. Billionaire businessman Michael Rubin, who currently owns a significant stake in the team, has announced on Wednesday that he intends to sell his ownership share.
Sixers superstar Joel Embiid was one of the first to react to the big news. The All-Star big man took to Twitter to spend a special shoutout to Rubin — a man who he considers to be his “brother:”
“You were supposed to leave after I retired ha… Gonna miss you my brother! Been an amazing 8 years for me and I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Embiid wrote in his tweet.
You were supposed to leave after I retired ha… Gonna miss you my brother! Been an amazing 8 years for me and I can’t wait to see what the future holds https://t.co/4ggLGhVHqu
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 22, 2022




In his statement, Rubin professed his fandom towards the Sixers — the team that he's supported since he was a child. The 49-year-old is also the CEO of Fanatics, which is considered the biggest provider of licensed sports merchandise in the whole world. According to Rubin, it is the growth and the expansion of his sports merchandise business that has led to his decision to sell his stake in the Sixers, given how his “new businesses will directly conflict with the ownership rules of sports leagues.”
Rubin joined the Sixers ownership group in 2011, which was three years prior to the arrival of Joel Embiid. Rubin was part of “The Process” in Philadelphia and it is clear that he's formed quite a bond with Embiid during their time together with the team.