The relationship between Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons appeared to deteriorate rather quickly after the end of last season, but the two apparently did speak to one another before Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
Embiid spoke about the Simmons situation with ESPN’s Malika Andrews this week. The Philadelphia 76ers star called Simmons a “great player” who is going to help the Nets, but Embiid said it go to the point where he didn’t care about Simmons anymore. He also said he last heard from his former teammate a week or so before the NBA trade deadline.
“I did a lot of chasing around trying to get him back and try to make him feel comfortable again. It was tough. I didn’t care anymore.”
Joel Embiid on Ben Simmons, James Harden, and the MVP race. Catch our convo on NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/cI2dXv6QIn
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) February 22, 2022
“He’s a great player and I think whatever he’s gonna add to Brooklyn is gonna take them to another level,” Embiid said. “I did a lot of chasing around, trying to get him back and trying to make him feel comfortable again. It was tough. I didn’t care anymore.”
There is clearly no love lost between Embiid and Simmons. The two were said to be having issues even before Embiid threw Simmons under the bus following last year’s playoffs. When Simmons refused to report to the Sixers during the offseason, Embiid made it clear he no longer supported him.
If you want to know how Embiid feels about Simmons, look no further than the meme the MVP candidate tweeted out after Simmons was traded. The two probably won’t be spending holidays together going forward.
Photo: Nov 27, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before action against the Sacramento Kings at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
