Embiid: Not a big fan of NBA bubble
Joel Embiid, as he usually does, spoke his mind.
During a Tuesday Zoom video call, the 76ers’ star center said he considered opting out of the NBA restart because he doesn’t trust that other players will take the proper precautions in Orlando and he believes he didn’t get the ball enough during the 2019-20 regular season.
On Thursday, Embiid and the Sixers were scheduled to fly to Orlando, where they will prepare for the final eight regular-season games — beginning Aug. 1 against the Pacers — and the Aug. 18 start of the playoffs.
While he thinks the Sixers have “a great chance” to win the NBA championship, Embiid “hated the [league’s] idea” of having the players and team personnel live in a bubble. He claims he doesn’t go out or drink and all he’ll continue to do when he’s not playing basketball at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex is play video games in his hotel room.
“All I want to do is stay healthy, stay safe and keep the people around me safe,” he said.
The issue is “I don’t trust those other guys to do the same,” according to Embiid, because they want to socialize.
“You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re putting your life at risk,” Embiid said. “Basketball is not all that matters.
“When it’s all said and done, basketball shouldn’t define me.”
Embiid said he decided to play because he doesn’t want to let his teammates, coaches or the Philadelphia fans down.
“I’m not a big fan of the idea, but then again I’m going to do the job and not let the city down,” he said. “That’s what I’ve always done. The mindset doesn’t change. It doesn’t matter that I still don’t like that idea. I don’t think it’s going to be safe, but, like I said, I’m going to do my job.”
Embiid and the Sixers are 39-26 and tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Voted a starter in each of the last two NBA All-Star Games, Embiid’s numbers are down from a year ago, including his scoring (27.5 points to 23.4), rebounding (13.6 to 11.8), free-throw attempts (10.1 to 8.7), minutes (33.7 to 30.2) and field-goal percentage (.484 to .474). His free-throw percentage (.804 to .814) and 3-point shooting (.300 to .348) have improved.
It’s unclear if Embiid is putting most of the blame for his statistical drop-off on Brett Brown and the coaching staff or his teammates or himself, though the last option would seem unlikely.
“I need to be more assertive,” Embiid said. “During this year, there were a lot of times when I was just not into the offense and just basically going through the motions. I’ve just got be that guy, demand the ball and do what I do.
“I was on that path right before the season got shut down to just get back to what I was doing last year — which was dominating everybody.”
When asked later what he wants to see from the offense in Orlando, Embiid replied, “That should not even be a question. I know what I’m capable of. I know what my teammates think of me. I know I’m capable of carrying the team.
“… I should never be in a position to complain about not getting the ball just because of who I am. I’ve just got to take matters into my own hands. I’m Joel Embiid. I want to be put in a position to help us reach the ultimate goal — win a championship”
While he wasn’t 100% in either of his first two postseasons due to injury and illness, Embiid and the rest of the players had a 31⁄2-month break to rest during the NBA shutdown.