Ben Simmons turns his back on Joel Embiid after public betrayal

Ben Simmons wants to break up with Joel Embiid, deciding the two can no longer share the court as he seeks a trade away from Philadelphia.

Everything is not alright in Philadelphia. Photo: Getty Images.

Ben Simmons wants to wave goodbye to Philadelphia and, more specifically, Joel Embiid.

The Aussie NBA star may have dated Kendall Jenner but the most talked-about relationship in Philly has been Simmons’ pairing with 76ers All-Star centre Embiid.

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The two biggest names on the Sixers roster were the centrepieces around which the franchise was supposed to build a championship-winning team but question marks have regularly hovered over the duo’s on-court chemistry. Matchwinners on their best day individually, the jury has been out on whether the two can combine effectively or if they cramp each other’s style in the paint.

As Simmons tries to force a trade out of Philadelphia, a new report has emerged claiming he is done playing alongside Embiid. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Simmons believes the experiment is over.

“People who have intimate knowledge of how he sees this situation continue to insist that he’s done playing with Embiid. There’s nothing personal about this choice, it seems, but the 25-year-old Simmons has clearly decided that his career is better off without Embiid blocking the runways in the paint that he so badly needs to succeed,” Amick writes.

“As he sees it, sources say, the organisation’s choice to build its basketball ecosystem around Embiid’s style simply isn’t conducive to the way he needs to play.

“So while Embiid insisted to reporters on Monday that he wants Simmons back, this much is clear: The feeling is not mutual.”

Sixers president Daryl Morey said there’s a “lot of hope” Simmons will remain in Philadelphia, but a source told The Atlantic: “That’s total bulls***.”

Breaking up is always hard. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/AFP)

The revelation comes after Embiid publicly betrayed Simmons following his disastrous shooting performances in the 76ers’ playoffs defeat to Atlanta last season. Speaking after the loss in Game 7, Embiid said the turning point was when Simmons had an open dunk but infamously decided to pass under the rim, resulting in a foul and missed free throw.

At the Sixers media day on Tuesday (AEST), Embiid said he wanted Simmons to stay in Philadelphia and addressed his post-Game 7 comments.

“I don’t think I said anything,” Embiid said. “I was asked a question, what was the turning point of the game and I really believe that it was the turning point of the game.

“I don’t have any regrets because I didn’t call out anybody. I just stated the facts. I’m honest, I can’t lie, and that’s just me. I don’t have any regrets because I don’t feel like I put anybody in a situation where they had to feel bad.”

Criticism about an unwillingness to shoot has dogged Simmons his entire NBA career and Embiid poked fun at the Australian when asked what he would like to see if he stayed at the franchise, alluding to clips of him shooting three-pointers in pre-season workouts.

“I’m sure we all see the videos,” Embiid said, prompting laughter among reporters. “So that would help because he has that potential. He has that potential to be that good.”

All good things must come to an end. Tim Bradbury/Getty Images/AFP

Simmons doesn’t want to play for the Sixers again and is preparing to be fined and even suspended for not showing up to pre-season camp as he aims to force a trade to another team.

Multiple franchises have been linked with interest in Simmons but so far the 76ers haven’t been able to agree on a suitable trade package to release the former No. 1 draft pick. It’s left the two parties in a tense standoff — Simmons is unwilling to suit up and Philly isn’t prepared to let him go without being adequately compensated with a big-name star.

On the weekend it was reported Simmons’ Sixers teammates wanted to fly out to Las Angeles to meet with him, but he rejected their advances and wasn’t willing to talk.