Joel Embiid Directs Responsibility at Sixers President Daryl Morey After Being Snubbed Against Wizards

Joel Embiid puts the blame on GM Daryl Morey after the Philadelphia 76ers held him out of a game despite his strong return from injury.

Joel Embiid Directs Responsibility at Sixers President Daryl Morey After Being Snubbed Against Wizards

Joel Embiid (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Joel Embiid expressed frustration over being sidelined against the Wizards, attributing the decision to 76ers president Daryl Morey.
  • Despite injury struggles, Embiid has averaged 26.7 points and 7.6 rebounds this season, showing strong performances since his return.
  • The 76ers currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 43-34 record, aiming for a deep playoff run with their star players back in form.

The Philadelphia 76ers finally have their big three back in action as Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey are back on the court with the playoffs approaching. The three stars combined to score 63 points as the 76ers registered an impressive 115-103 victory at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday night.

Embiid, who missed the previous game against the Washington Wizards, was unhappy about missing the game and put 76ers president Daryl Morey on the spot with his statement.

I was pissed off. I wanted to play basketball. I wasn’t allowed to play basketball. I think this is more of a question for Daryl Morey. I think going into Miami, I was pretty sick, but I understood how important the game was, and I still wanted to give us a chance to go out and try to do something. [I] felt a bit better going into Washington. I woke up, didn’t sleep until five or six in the morning. With that, couldn’t make it to shootaround. After that, I found out online that I wasn’t playing.

Joel Embiid in his post-match media scrum

It has been a difficult 2025-26 campaign for Joel Embiid in terms of injuries, which is pretty much the story of his NBA career. The big man made his return to court on March 25 after missing a month due to injury.

But it looks like Embiid was fit and ready to play against the Wizards on Wednesday, but he believes Daryl Morey made the call to pull him out in the end. This is not the first time Morey has been thrown under the bus by a player. James Harden called out the 76ers’ president for betraying him by not offering a contract before his exit from the franchise.

Embiid has struggled to play for the majority of the season. He has made just 37 appearances with just five games to go in the regular season. However, despite his injury struggles, he has had some strong performances this season. He is averaging 26.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, four assists and 1.1 blocks.

The 76ers center played three games in a row and averaged 30 points per night after his return late March. It looked like the big man was finding his rhythm again, but Morey decided to hold him back.

Can Joel Embiid help the Philadelphia 76ers with a deep playoff run?

When fit and healthy, there are very few players like Joel Embiid in the NBA. His size and movement make him one of the most dominant centers in the league on both sides of the court.

Embiid has claimed that he is feeling good since his comeback and is ready to play all games heading forward. The former MVP has enough help to take the 76ers on a deep playoff run as well. Paul George has been in fine form since his 25-game suspension and Tyrese Maxey has elevated his game into one of the best scoring guards in the league.

Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid (Image credits – CNN)

If the big three can remain healthy for the remainder of the season, the 76ers will be optimistic about their chances in the playoffs. They can be a dark horse in a wide-open Eastern Conference.

Despite Embiid and George missing the majority of the season, the 76ers find themselves at sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 43-34 record. However, the Toronto Raptors are right behind at seventh place and are tied in games with the 76ers.

Paul George has been on fire since his return

It is good to see Paul George back in form after a long time. Injuries and a 25-game suspension have restricted the forward to just 32 games this season.

With George being the third option for the majority of the season behind Embiid and Maxey, he has struggled to post high-scoring numbers. But since his return, George has been flying in his last five games. Over his last five games, he has been averaging 27 points, 6.6 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

The 76ers are scheduled to take on the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in their second game of a back-to-back. It remains to be seen if Embiid and George play or if the coaching staff decides against it.

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