Information leaks on 76ers’ team meeting, Tyrese Maxey reportedly challenges Joel Embiid

Following the 76ers’ fourth-straight loss in Miami on Monday night, which dropped them to 2-11 on the season, Kyle Lowry called an hour-long meeting.

Of course, information came out of what transpired at the meeting on Tuesday from ESPN’s Shams Charania.

There is a lot to go through, but the biggest point is what occurred between Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid:

“Maxey challenged Embiid to be on time to team activities, calling out the 2022-23 league MVP about being late ‘for everything’ and how it impacts the locker room, from other players to the coaching staff, sources briefed on the meeting told ESPN.

“Maxey and Embiid have a close friendship and a history of holding each other accountable, according to those around the team.

“‘Tyrese loves Big Fella, but this is the elephant in the room,’ a person involved in the meeting told ESPN.”

Hello.

So this is a big deal if the 24-year-old kid is going after the 30-year-old former MVP for his, well, childish actions.

Embiid’s tardiness to what was advertised as “everything,” is obviously affecting the team. Kind of gives me a sense that Embiid will never grow up and become a leader. He has been in the NBA for nine years. If he has not matured by now he probably just never will. This is just who he is.

Throughout the NBA, you hear coaches say the real stars, like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, are always the first in the gym. When your best player is your hardest worker, it sets the culture. Nobody has said that about Embiid, ever. Physical concerns are one thing since we know Embiid sure does have an injury history, but showing up late to team meetings and events is another. It sets an impoverished tone.

The Olympics were supposed to help Embiid. He was going to be around all these proven stars and learn from them. He was supposed to grow up, learn a work ethic, and be hungry to chase an NBA title after being around all of those champions. Embiid has only regressed since then.

And this is even more significant since Embiid, who missed the first handful of games for the Sixers, has returned he has been lifeless. Over his first three games this season, he is averaging just 14.7 points per game while shooting 32.4% from the field. Embiid did not attempt a free throw all of Monday night for the first time since 2018. He just has not looked ready to play.

Maxey is currently out with a strained right hamstring, but he is expected to return this week, either Wednesday in Memphis or Friday at home against the Nets, per Charania.

I give a lot of respect to Maxey for speaking up and saying something. He is considered a leader by those in the organization, even though he has been around for just five seasons. So, good for him.

Embiid reportedly accepted the messages sent in the meeting, but he said he is occasionally confused about what the 76ers are attempting to execute on the court. So, well, that is not great.

That seems to be getting overlooked by the Maxey story, but that is troubling to me. If your star player is unaware of what is going on, everyone is going to struggle. Is that on Embiid for not being present, as Maxey pointed out, or on the coaching staff? Not sure.

Speaking of the coaching staff, they were a point in the meeting. “Players told 76ers coach Nick Nurse they want to be coached harder, and coaches in turn said they want players to practice with purpose and attention to detail.”

The Sixers are 2-11. They are tied for the worst record in the NBA with the Washington Wizards (lol). Embiid, Paul George, and Maxey are yet to play on the floor together. They are not winning games with any of them on the floor. It definitely points out that the supporting cast, like Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin, Lowry, Eric Gordon, and others, just have not been good enough. This was supposed to be the most well-rounded group the Sixers have had in the process era, and it is just not.

Is it on the coaches for not being hard enough? Is it on Embiid for putting a poor taste in everyone’s mouth? Or are they just bad?

I do not know. But there is time to fix it. The Sixers are just three games out of the final play-in spot and four out of the six seed, which avoids the play-in round.

But if this continues, could a rebuild be on the horizon? After a decade of trusting, losing, and suffering, we could return to those dark days.

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