Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers created quite a stir the other day when he publicly said that he wants to win an NBA championship, regardless of the location he’s at.
That slight comment had fans of the team convinced that Embiid is not devoted to the Sixers and could cut and run.
No matter his intentions, Embiid’s words have received a lot of pushback and criticism.
Analyst Ric Bucher spoke to Fox Sports Radio and told host Doug Gottlieb that Embiid showed a lack of leadership with his recent comment.
Bucher spoke of how Embiid wasn’t being self-aware of his position in the team when he spoke:
“You have to be intentional in everything that you say. The idea that he’s available…I don’t know what’s what he’s thinking, but he has to understand that that’s how this is going to be interpreted.”
He also added that Philadelphia is a sports town where players should “vocalize ‘I have one foot in, one foot out.'”
Bucher said that this whole incident proves that Embiid still has quite a bit of room to grow when it comes to leading this, or any, team.
A team leader needs to understand that everything he says is under the spotlight and will be scrutinized.
It doesn’t matter what Embiid meant, his words are going to be picked apart and he needs to know that will happen.
He has to be careful and measured in all that he says.
Speculation about Embiid leaving the 76ers has skyrocketed since this comment and it will continue to do so over the next few weeks and months.
This was the first sign that trouble could be brewing with Embiid and the Sixers and it has fans on edge.
It’ll take a lot of convincing from Embiid before those fans feel comfortable again.
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