Immediately after eliminating the Sixers from title contention in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against the Boston Celtics, Philly players were flooded with the press trying to find answers that could explain their defeat.
The player most subject to media pressure was none other than reigning league MVP Joel Embiid, who reflected on the season after the contest. The press even stepped up its investigation and asked the Sixers big man about the status of James Harden’s contract.
Joel Embiid: 13 points (4-16 FG)
James Harden: 9 points (3-9 FG) pic.twitter.com/PDYfSLyoNV
– NBACentral (TheNBACentral) May 14, 2023
“It’s going to take more of us. We have to look at ourselves. I have to be better, I’m going to be better, that’s what I focus on,” Joel was very honest. “We all have to go back and find ways to keep improving and helping the team. You can’t win alone. We can’t win alone. James and I, we can’t win alone.”
After that, the MVP seemed to take his frustrations out on his teammates, even by Harden and himself combining for only 23 points that night. “That’s why basketball is played five-on-five. We need everyone to keep finding ways to get better, and we’ll be fine.”
However, The Sixers star’s optimism grew throughout the interview. “I still think we have a chance to win, we have what it takes to win. I don’t know what’s going on, I know he has a player option he can extend, but it’s on those guys to figure it out. I’m staying out of it.”
“I still think we have a chance to win,” he concluded.
Joel referred to Giannis Antetokounmo’s opinion of the failure to cover up his second-round elimination
Embiid just became the only player in the league not to advance to the Conference Finals stage in his career, even though the big guy produced a stellar season averaging 33.1 points per game during the regular season.
During the playoffs, his points average dropped to 23.7 per contest, the largest drop (-9.4) by the league’s MVP in NBA history.
Check out the entire post-game interview with the MVP as Philly was eliminated in Game 7:
“I’m really starting to figure out how I need to improve for next year,” said the center, before I quote Milwaukee Bucks a star Giannis Antetokounmo on his views on the failure.
“We got an unfinished job. We didn’t win anything, and I think we have a chance to win.”
“I have a good vision of what I have to do to be better, to be a better basketball player. To keep getting better every year I’ve done it… As someone said, ‘It’s not a failure, you know [there’s] Steps to success. “