Philadelphia 76ers star hints at following James Harden through exit door

17 July 2023 , 19:18

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Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA MVP award for 2022/23 (Image: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has hinted that his desire to win a championship may lead him away from the franchise.

Embiid was one of the stars of the NBA in 2022/23 with the Sixers, winning the league’s MVP award. In the process, the 29-year-old beat fellow nominees Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Despite his individual success, Embiid’s wait for a championship went on as the Sixers exited the NBA play-offs in the Eastern Conference semi-final. The team, led by Doc Rivers, was beaten by the Boston Celtics, which led to the organisation changing its head coach and bringing in Nick Nurse, who was fired by the Toronto Raptors.

While Embiid has a long-term contract with the Sixers, it’s not the same story for one of his teammates. Ten-time NBA All-Star James Harden faces an uncertain future in Philadelphia.

Harden signed a one-year player option in his contract earlier this month. The news came after there was speculation the 33-year-old could leave in free agency.

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After Harden signed the contract, there is still talk that Harden could be traded, with several teams reportedly in the running. The LA Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and the Celtics have been listed as possible trade destinations for Harden.

Embiid still has a long-term contract with the Sixers, after being drafted with the No.3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. But he is yet to win a major championship since moving to the City of Brotherly Love.

Now the Sixers center has admitted that he is determined to win a championship in his career. And in the process, he has acknowledged that he may have to be with another team in order to achieve that.

Joel Embiid has spoken about his future with the Philadelphia 76ers (Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images for UNINTERRUPTED)

“I just want to win a championship. Whatever it takes,” said Embiid, while appearing at the UNINTERRUPTED Film Festival in an interview with Maverick Carter.

“I don’t know where that’s going to be, whether 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 think about the next one. It’s not easy. It takes more than one, two, three guys. You’ve got to have good people around you.

“Myself, every single day, I work hard to be at that level so I can produce and make it happen. Every single day I’m working towards that goal.”

Mark Wakefield