The Sixer Sense
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What might have been: Joel Embiid wanted to stay at Kansas a second year

By Christopher Kline

AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 01: Joel Embiid #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a foul during a game against the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on February 1, 2014 in Austin, Texas. Texas won the game 81-69. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 01: Joel Embiid #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a foul during a game against the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on February 1, 2014 in Austin, Texas. Texas won the game 81-69. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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With a Friday night game in Kansas City, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid reflected on his time at Kansas — and dropped a surprising statement in the process.

The Philadelphia 76ers will face the Miami Heat in Kansas City Friday night, meaning Joel Embiid will be playing close to his collegiate home for the first time since leaving the Jayhawks after his freshman year. Even with injury concerns, Embiid ended up coming off the board third in 2014 draft — seemingly another successful one-and-done commitment.

Embiid, however, didn’t necessarily want it to play out that way.

According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Embiid wanted to stay in Kansas for another year, but was pushed out by an unnamed individual.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

"“It was a great feeling,” Embiid said of Kansas after the workout, sweat still dripping from his face. “When I was here, I don’t think anybody knows this story, but I actually decided to stay. I loved this place so much. I was actually pushed to leave. But I loved this place so much.”"

When asked who that individual was, Embiid said this:

"“I’m not going to say, but it was a tough choice. I still have a lot of love for Kansas, and every time I have a chance to represent, I’m going to do it.”"

This is surprising on the surface, but it’s more or less the nature of being an elite prospect. Whether it was his coaching staff, friends or a potential agent, there would have been ample pressure on Embiid to take the guaranteed money that came with being a prospective top three pick.

Had he stayed at Kansas for another season, though, things could look drastically different now.

Embiid would have been pushed into the 2015 draft, leaving the likes of Aaron Gordon, Dante Exum and Marcus Smart on the Sixers’ radar for 2014. While all three would have produced tangibly during their first couple of seasons, none of them share the same historically-relevant upside that Embiid has.

That would also put Embiid in the same draft class as Jahlil Okafor. Embiid would have dealt with injury troubles at Kansas as well, and an underwhelming campaign/lack of playing time in general could have dropped his stock. But his upside has always been highly regarded, and the Sixers could have very well been tasked with a difficult decision between Embiid and Okafor with the No. 3 pick.

The Process, or someone who now feels ostracized by it.

The ramifications of an Embiid-less team run even further, and it’s an odd possibility to think about. Embiid was relatively new to basketball entering Kansas, so it’s understandable for him to feel more comfortable spending another year on campus with a coaching staff and teammates he enjoyed. With that said, it’s also abnormal for potential top picks to opt for a return to school.

Next: 5 things to watch for with Joel Embiid going forward

What could have been?