Will Joel Embiid Follow Lebron James Model Of Winning A Championship?

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid recently said he will do "whatever it takes" to win a championship is a similar mentality to Lebron James when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010.

Last week, Embiid said at the inaugural Uninterrupted Film Festival, "Whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else, I just want to have a chance to accomplish that. I want to see what it feels like to win that first one, and then you can think about the next one. It’s not easy. It takes more than one or two, or three guys."

When James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to chase a championship in Miami alongside Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, he opened the door for the next generation of All-Stars. In today’s league, many players have requested trades to compete for a title, including James Harden and Kevin Durant.

Embiid could be next.

With his All-Star teammate (Harden) requesting a trade, Embiid may become unsatisfied with the roster surrounding him. Last season, he won the MVP after averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 54.8 percent shooting from the field.

The past four seasons, Embiid and the 76ers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals. James had similar struggles with the Cavaliers, failing to win a championship before signing with the Heat.

Embiid becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season. The New York Knicks are among those heavily interested in the MVP if he requests a trade at the end of this season.

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at anthonypasciolla36@gmail.com or follow him on Tik Tok @anthonysports_