Joel Embiid Wants to Win NBA Title in Philadelphia, 76ers President Says

He downplayed his star player’s comments, where it appeared that Embiid hinted he’s open to winning somewhere else.

Joel Embiid made waves for his Thursday comments during a speaking event when he said he wanted to win an NBA title but added, “I don’t know where that’s gonna be. Whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else.” The NBA world took that as the star center hinting that he’s open to leaving the 76ers, but on Tuesday team president Daryl Morey downplayed the comments. 

“He had some fun with that yesterday,” Morey said on The Anthony Gargano Show, according to Philly Sports Network’s Sean Barnard. “That was a very Joel day.”

Morey added that both he and new coach Nick Nurse spoke to Embiid at length on Monday and he’s confident the reigning MVP is bought in on winning with Philadelphia. 

“He wants to win it here. He wants to win it for Philly,” Morey said on Embiid,” per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. 

Embiid is coming off his best season in 2022–23 where he led the NBA in scoring at 33.1 points per game, a career-high, and was named All-NBA first-team for the first time in his career. He also won his first MVP award, but the team’s playoff success is still a work in progress. His team once again lost in the second round of the playoffs. Since being drafted in 2014 with the No. 3 pick by Philadelphia, his team has never reached the Eastern Conference finals.