NBA Insider Explains Joel Embiid’s Mentality for Next Season

At this point in Joel Embiid’s career, the Philadelphia 76ers center has proven he’s among the league’s elite. Being that he’s a six-time All-Star, participating in the big game since his sophomore effort, and having three MVP finalist nods, including winning the award last season, there’s no debate that Embiid is one of the best in the game right now.

However, the superstar center hasn’t been able to power through the playoffs. Since the 2017-2018 NBA season, Embiid has led his Sixers to the playoffs. In that first postseason run, the Sixers made it to the second round before coming up short against the Boston Celtics.

The following year, Philly went to a Game 7 with the eventual champions. Although 2020 marked the first time Embiid failed to make it out of the first round, he’s helped the Sixers make an Eastern Conference Semifinals appearance over the next three seasons.

The 2023 playoffs ended in a disappointing fashion for Philadelphia. Back at home with a 3-2 lead over the second-seeded Celtics, Embiid and the Sixers let the elimination game slip away as Boston forced a Game 7. Once the two teams squared off at TD Garden, the Celtics didn’t let the Sixers have an inch in that game.

Suffering a blowout loss in Game 7, Embiid and the Sixers failed to break the second-round drought. Suddenly, Embiid’s feel-good MVP story faded as fans were once again disappointed with the way the season ended. Now, Embiid’s reportedly more motivated than ever.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne recently painted a picture of Embiid’s mentality going into the 2023-2024 NBA season. Although the star center hasn’t lacked motivation in the past, it seems his team’s most recent shortcomings have him fired up for the future still.

"His mentality is that he is going to give everything he has to the Sixers this year,” Shelburne recently stated on NBA Today. "That includes putting his arm around James Harden, that includes trying to lift Tyrese Maxey up, that includes inviting all of those guys to his wedding."

The Sixers are in a tough spot currently. Not only did they lose some key contributors in free agency, but their ten-time All-Star guard James Harden has made it known he’s disgruntled and would like a change of scenery. Embiid addressed Harden’s trade request, displaying an understanding of the situation while making it clear that he would like Harden back in the mix.

While the MVP’s influence hasn’t changed Harden’s mind at this time, the star center knows he still needs to level up personally in order to keep his team on track. Based on Shelburne’s latest update regarding Embiid, it seems the seven-footer is looking to come back with a vengeance next year.