Joel Embiid's Viral Quote After Celtics Eliminate 76ers

Joel Embiid met with the media after the Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs.

On Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia 76ers had their season come to an end when they lost Game 7 of their second-round playoff series to the Boston Celtics by a score of 112-88.     

The Celtics will now advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, while the 76ers have lost in the second round for the third straight season.      

2023 MVP Joel Embiid finished the day with 15 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks.  

However, he shot just 5/18 from the field and 0/4 from the three-point range. 

Joel Embiid averaged 33.1 PPG in the regular season and 23.7 PPG in the playoffs.

That drop-off (-9.4) is the largest by that year's MVP in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/beu4XrfqNg

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 15, 2023

After the game, the superstar center met with the media, and one of his quotes went viral (his full answer to the original question can be watched here). 

Embiid: "Me and James, we just can't win alone. That's why basketball is played 5-on-5. We just need everybody to try to keep finding ways to get better and will be fine."

“Me and James, we can't win alone. That's why basketball is played 5-on-5. We need everybody to find ways to be better.”

- Joel Embiid after being eliminated 😬 pic.twitter.com/rxvWta1Eq1

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 14, 2023

Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard quote tweeted the clip of Embiid (from CBS Sports) and wrote, "Huh ?" 

Huh ? https://t.co/asvJnAzHlr

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 15, 2023

The 76ers finished the regular season as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 54-28 record and swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round.

They had the talent to make the NBA Finals, which is why losing in the second round is a disappointment. 

Embiid has yet to make the Conference Finals through his first seven seasons in the league.

In addition, the 29-year-old suffered a knee injury in the first round, so he was likely playing through pain.

More on the Philadelphia 76ers can be read here