‘Stats don’t lie’: 76ers star Joel Embiid stings fans over Simmons rumours

A Philadelphia 76ers star has delivered a blunt message to fans regarding Ben Simmons’ future with the team as trade rumours swirl.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid (right) hopes Ben Simmons will stay with the team. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/AFP)

Joel Embiid wants to be kept out of the growing Ben Simmons drama.

After Simmons reportedly informed the 76ers last week that he hopes to be traded and has no plans to attend training camp later this month, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt wrote Sunday that the “Simmons-Embiid rift had been escalating” and that the Sixers “had to pick one or the other.”

Kayo is your ticket to the best local and international sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now >

“Trust me bro!! Stop using my name to push people’s agendas,” Embiid, a four-time All-Star centre, responded Wednesday on Twitter.

“I love and hate drama.

“I love playing with Ben. Stats don’t lie.

“He’s an amazing player and we all didn’t get the job done.

Ben Simmons is heavily linked with a move away from the 76ers. Picture: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

“It’s on me personally.

“I hope everyone is back cuz we know we’re good enough to win.”

Simmons, who is entering the second season of a five-year contract worth $177.2 million, reportedly met with Sixers owner Josh Harris, team president Daryl Morey, GM Elton Brand and head coach Doc Rivers last week in Los Angeles.

In four seasons with Philadelphia, Simmons won the league’s Rookie of the Year award in 2018 and made the All-Star team in each of the following three seasons. He also has been named twice to the NBA All-Defensive first team.

The former No. 1 overall pick posted 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game last season, but he averaged just 11.9 points over 12 playoff appearances. He also shot just 34.2 per cent from the free-throw line in the post-season, including a seven-game loss to the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

This story originally appeared in the New York Post and has been republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘Stats don’t lie’: 76ers star Joel Embiid stings fans over Simmons rumours