Joel Embiid says Ben Simmons is the “one that got away”

One of Ben Simmons’ former teammates has backflipped on the Aussie star after he hung him out to dry ahead of a blockbuster trade.

Joel Embiid has backflipped on his Ben Simmons stance. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

Joel Embiid has changed his tune on former teammate Ben Simmons.

The Philadelphia 76ers big man and the Aussie guard had the league in the palm of their hands before it all fell apart during the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

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Against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Simmons became public enemy number one among Philly fans after a nightmare moment in Game 7 in late June.

With the 76ers down two points and a little over three minutes left on the clock, Simmons passed up a wide open dunk attempt as he passed to Matisse Thybulle.

It was that exact moment that saw Embiid and then coach Doc Rivers turn on the Aussie as they crucified him post-game.

Embiid labelled it the “turning point” in the game while Rivers claimed he didn’t know if Simmons could be the point guard of a championship-winning team.

But as the old saying goes, time heals all wounds.

The 29-year-old Cameroonian centre opened up on Simmons while appearing on current teammate Tyrese Maxey’s podcast.

While questions have long been raised surrounding Simmons’ offensive shortcomings, Embiid said he always believed he was a dominant enough player to not need a consistent shot.

Embiid has completely changed his tune on Simmons. (Photo by Christian Petersen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

“I’ve always been one of those people that didn’t believe [Simmons] actually needed a jumper,” Embiid said on the Maxey on the Mic podcast.

“Like he was so good, he’s just a monster … almost as fast as you [Maxey].

“Think about it, 6-11, freaking jumping hard, guarding one-through-five, like a freaking monster.

“So I never believed that he actually needed the jumper, I just believed that if he could find a way to get his free throw to 75-80 per cent, that would have changed everything.

“Because if you think about it, if you believe that he could make shots, what would he do? He would keep attacking, attacking, attacking, and never stopping.

“And then what would the defence have to do? He was already such a great playmaker, making the guy, the game, easy for everybody else.

“I think that’s the perfect match … I think that’s the one that got away. I just hate the fact that the way things happened.”

Joel and Ben were a dominant one-two punch. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

Simmons ultimately missed all of the 2021-22 campaign following his playoff nightmare before he forced his way out of Philadelphia in a trade that landed him with the Brooklyn Nets.

While Embiid may be missing his former running mate, the Sixers new point guard is taking the league by storm.

Maxey found himself stuck down the pecking order but in his fourth season he’s become one of the hottest players in the NBA.

He said that being given the keys to run the offence has helped unlock a whole new level to his game.

“When Ben was here, I wasn’t a part of offence, really, I didn’t play with Ben that much. I was always coming in for him. You know what I’m saying? I played with (Dwight Howard). So I never played with Ben,” Maxey said.

“James (Harden) was different for me as well. I also had never had the freedom to be on the ball like I am now. So I always played a role in those two, three years.

“You’re the best player on the team, since you step foot in there.

“So me, when James came, I’m just like a role guy. I’m like, All right, look, I don’t have no say so, it’s year two for me. Let’s be honest. I’m just happy to be here.

“You know what I’m saying? It was different for sure because of how he played, but hey, I want to play. You know me, I want to play.”