With expectations higher than ever for Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, the seven-time All-Star center made a defiant stance ahead of Opening Night. Four-time champion LeBron James will make his 76ers debut against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. His decision to join Philadelphia during free agency undoubtedly raised the stakes, especially after the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown in exchange for Paul George and draft capital.
While some wonder how the 76ers will make it work with a roster full of stars, including Tyrese Maxey, Embiid said he doesn't believe players should sacrifice for the team, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.
“I'm against the concept of sacrificing,” Embiid said. “I think the way I explained it was you do what you do best, and we're going to support you. … I don't think anybody has to take a backseat.”
Joel Embiid finished with 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in 29 minutes of the 76ers' 125-120 overtime loss to the Celtics in their preseason finale. After the game, Embiid gave reporters an encouraging health update on how his body's feeling ahead of the upcoming season.
“It's good to dunk. I thought I would never dunk again,” Embiid said. “I guess I don't know what happened. I kind of got possessed.”
For Brown, the 76ers are far from finished. However, he's seeing much-needed strides toward improvement every day.
Article Continues Below“We're not where we want to be yet,” Brown said. “So that's just part of it. It's a part of coming together, a new group with a bunch of guys, different style, but we just got to keep getting better every day.”
While some warn the 76ers about upcoming hurdles, veterans with championship experience like James and Brown are leading the way for budding stars like VJ Edgecombe and Maxey; the Sixers are in great shape to compete for a title. However, whether they take the right steps to get there remains to be seen.