Joel Embiid has been the face of the Philadelphia 76ers for the past 10 years. Whether it’s fair or not, Embiid has been directly linked to Philadelphia’s victories, defeats, and controversies, which is the responsibility superstar players have to bear. As a result, narratives have formed, and Embiid has been criticized for his leadership by fans and the media alike. However, players have come out against this stance, and Jared McCain is the latest to do so.
McCain spoke about his relationship with Embiid
McCain participated in an interview with Declan Harris of 76ers on Sports Illustrated where he opened up about his experience with the 76ers, including his relationship with Embiid.
“I think, coming in as a rookie, you never know with these superstars how they're going to be, how they're going to react, especially to me, seeing my social media, a lot of people have that first impression that is not always the best when I meet people. But for him, it was just that he was way more chill than I thought he was going to be, and that's when I first met him,” McCain said. “I think seeing him throughout the season, seeing what the media says, and then actually talking to him in person, it's like he's just misunderstood in a lot of ways.”
How this Embiid narrative came to be
Fans are justified in questioning Embiid’s leadership based on how poorly Philadelphia’s 2024-25 campaign unfolded. People from the outside looking in, including myself, are only privy to clips of the 76ers’ team huddles and quotes from people within the organization. Since there aren’t many clips in recent memory where Embiid is seen firing up the team or anything of that nature, fans conclude that he’s not an impactful locker room presence.
Many people associate elite leadership with a player being vocal or pushing their teammates when they don’t want to be pushed. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant epitomized this, and it’s part of the reason why their legacy will forever be remembered. Those who criticize Embiid’s culture-setting typically grew up during Jordan and Bryant’s path to greatness and, therefore, expect every franchise player to hold the same values.
With this in mind, it’s easy to see why fans developed this narrative. However, that doesn’t mean it’s true as leadership comes in many forms. McCain, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe have all praised Embiid’s locker room presence and approachability. Embiid may not be the greatest leader in a public lens, but the opinion of multiple 76ers players, especially those a part of their young core, should hold weight.