Mental State
Embiid’s most recent social media activity should be a clear indication that Embiid’s not in a good place. The tweet below began the whole thing.
"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/m5EPaKcsfb
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) February 11, 2020
Jimmy Butler responded by indicating that he knew of a place where Embiid would be embraced (warning strong language in link). It should be noted that after his initial tweet, Embiid posted this on Twitter showing Philadelphia some love, but it’s clear that he’s not happy.
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This isn’t a surprise as he’s clearly indicated that he’s playing without joy and he’s trying to find it again (subscription required for link). Still, there’s several layers to this social media exchange.
Prior to this social media fiasco, Embiid received some boos from fans at home against the Memphis Grizzlies and he then went on to shushing the crowd with a game clinching three over the Chicago Bulls. That helps add context, but that’s not the issue here.
The problem is the exchange he had with Jimmy Butler about it. When Butler was a member of the Sixers, he and Embiid were close. So much so, Embiid wished that Butler didn’t leave as a free agent this past summer.
For one reason or the other, Butler left and now he is leading an exciting young Miami Heat team. In this social media exchange, it’s not hard to read in-between the lines and seeing that Butler is recruiting Embiid to the Heat.
It’s doubtful that anything comes from it, but to see a franchise player engaged in such interactions is concerning to say the least. The fact that there was even this exchange shows his unhappiness with the situation in Philadelphia.
His co-star in Simmons refuses to adjust his game by taking more outside shots for Embiid. It appears that Embiid has at least has indirectly asked Simmons publicly to take perimeter shots by stating players have to get outside of their comfort zone.