Joel Embiid sparks outrage revealing ‘success’ of Knicks sweep before surprise admission on 76ers future

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers will have to continue to trust the process after.

The 76ers were once again eliminated from the 2026 NBA playoffs in the second round – the sixth time in nine postseason trips in Embiid’s career – this time by the New York Knicks in a four-game sweep.

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But former NBA MVP Embiid did everything he could, battling through injuries throughout the season and returning from an appendectomy – where he endured complications – in the playoffs.

“The things that I’ve been dealing with, they’ve all been related to the surgery. Coming back early, the core was weak, everything was affected,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ 144-114 blowout loss in Game 4.

“Because coming back early and the core is kind of weak, it’s not an excuse, but everything else is affected. Everything else is out of place. So, you’re looking at the hip, the adductor, everything’s out of place.”

“It kind of put me in a position where you don’t have time to get ready to play, and the little time that you have, you got to go jump straight to playoff basketball.

“But I feel like I still played as hard as I could. I fought hard. I tried to give us a better chance to win. Didn’t happen. So, I look at myself, and I got to be better.”

In Sunday’s loss which ended the Sixers’ 2025-26 campaign, Embiid registered 24 points, five rebounds and four assists.

During the regular season, the 7-foot center was limited to just 38 games due to injury, but averaged 26.9 points shooting at a 48.9 percent clip, along with 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 blocks in 31.6 minutes of action.

Drafted with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Embiid has spent his entire 12-year career in the City of Brotherly Love.

But the seven-time All-Star’s future in Philadelphia is not a forgone conclusion, with Embiid leaving the door open for a potential exit from the team.

“I don’t know who’s going to be here. I don’t even know if I’m going to be here, but whatever happens, happens,” he said. “But for me, I’m excited about really getting back to myself.”

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Embiid branding season as ‘success’ despite sweep causes outrage online

There were no Embiid tears after this series loss, as has been a theme in the past. In fact, quite the opposite as the 32-year-old branded the series sweep a ‘success’.

“I know I said it but I’m gonna say it again. I know we lost, and I know that’s not the right mentality to have, but for me, this was a success,” Embiid said, with his son sitting on his lap.

“I came into this year not knowing where I was gonna be. How long I was going to play, IF I was going to play based on how the knee was the last few years.

“I came in just hoping for the best and I feel like we’re in a position where we’ve figured out the knee. It hasn’t been an issue.”

Some basketball fans questioned Embiid’s mentality in light of these comments specifically.

“If your franchise player is talking like this, your team will never come close to a championship,” one fan posted to X (formerly Twitter).

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“This guy has whatever the opposite of mamba mentality is,” a second user wrote, referring to the late Kobe Bryant’s ‘Mamba Mentality’.

“I swear these new athletes don’t have the dog in them. Anyone has it?” a third questioned.

“You are never winning anything of substance with a guy like that. My goodness,” a fourth brutally added.

Embiid, though, appeared to double down on that mindset.

“I want to win more than anyone. It sucks to lose,” Embiid added. “I haven’t won anything, so that hurts.

“But to go home and raise [my son], raise my daughter, look at my wife in the eyes and understand I’m a good man. Really, that’s all that matters.”

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