Embiid responds to reports of rift with Simmons

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Ben Simmons (25) Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Embiid responds to reports of rift with Ben Simmons

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/3/21

Joel Embiid responded to reports that the rift between him and Ben Simmons had been escalating before the Philadelphia 76ers' 2021 second-round playoff exit.

The 27-year-old tweeted that he "loves" playing with Simmons and hopes "everyone is back" for the 2021-22 campaign because the team knows it's good enough to win.

Sources “Trust me bro”!! Stop using my name to push people’s agendas. I love and hate drama. I love playing with Ben. Stats don’t lie. He’s an amazing player and we all didn’t get the job done. It’s on me personally. I hope everyone is back cuz we know we’re good enough to win https://t.co/1kq9VI9byE
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2021

From my own experience, y’all have no idea how much this media makes up stuff for followers and shame on you for believing them.
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2021

I haven’t forgotten but 2 years ago, I got booed, people in Philly wanted me to be traded. I even shushed them. Only the real ones didn’t but I just put the work in that offseason to be better cuz I knew I wasn’t playing up to my potential. Philly fans, y’all also gotta be better
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2021

Simmons' days as a Sixer are all but over as daily trade rumors continue to surface around the three-time All-Star. The latest report says Simmons told the 76ers that he does not want to return to the team, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Simmons struggled throughout the playoffs, particularly in the second round against the Atlanta Hawks, averaging just 9.9 points per game and shooting 33.3 percent from the free-throw line. Over the last three games of the series, Simmons shot the ball 14 times, scoring 19 points.

Bleacher Report's Jason Dumas also reported last month that Simmons' relationship with Embiid is "beyond repair," and he is reportedly ignoring the big man's phone calls.

Ben Simmons’ relationship reportedly “beyond repair” is ignoring Joel Embiid’s phone calls. Doesn’t want to get traded to Raptors or Blazers. Open to getting traded to one of the California teams according to @JDumasReports on @957thegame pic.twitter.com/ouFTf7eBnw
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) August 5, 2021

Simmons and Embiid guided the Sixers to the Eastern Conference semifinals three times in each of their four seasons together. Philadelphia finished last season with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 20 years but squandered the opportunity. Now Embiid and Simmons are likely headed for a split despite the Cameroonian's comments about loving playing alongside Simmons.

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