Kofi Inkoom
76ers’ Center and reigning MVP Joel Embiid has shared his thoughts on James Harden’s tenure with the Sixers, emphasizing that the team made a concerted effort to put the ball in Harden’s hands and allow him to showcase his skills.
“In my view, we provided him with the ball on virtually every possession because of his exceptional abilities,” Embiid conveyed to the reporters. “He’s an incredible player, and given his exceptional passing ability, we essentially entrusted him with the ball. If you review it, you’ll see that we consistently placed the ball in his hands to let him work his magic. From there, he had to make choices, whether it was creating opportunities for his teammates or focusing on his own scoring. I believe he did a commendable job of initiating our offensive plays, not just by passing but also by creating opportunities for others.”
Embiid expressed his desire that the Sixers could have advanced further in the playoffs before the series of events that ultimately led to Harden being traded to the Clippers in a multi-player deal.
“I’m content that the situation has been resolved, and I’m happy for him,” Embiid remarked. “It’s what he wanted. However, it’s all part of the business. I’m genuinely happy for him, and I hope he has the chance to achieve success, earn well, play exceptional basketball, and secure victories. At the same time, I hope we both reach the Finals, but he finds himself on the losing side while we’re on the winning side. Nevertheless, as I mentioned earlier, I’m genuinely happy for him. He got what he desired.”
“Regrettably, there were misunderstandings among the parties involved, but it’s always heartening to witness people’s happiness, and he appears to be content.”
While Harden’s Clippers debut is still pending, there is a chance that he will kick off his season against the New York Knicks, away from home, this coming Monday.