Why 76ers All-Star called out Joel Embiid during team meeting

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey called out teammate Joel Embiid for his tardiness in a team meeting after the 76ers lost to the Miami Heat Monday, a person with knowledge of the meeting told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about what was said.

The person said Maxey and Embiid have great respect for each other, the comment was rooted in care and what’s best for the team. Maxey called for Embiid to be a better leader, but there is no animosity between the two players, the person said.

The Sixers are reeling amid a 2-11 start and have lost four consecutive games and nine of their past 10. They are tied with Washington for the NBA’s worst record and were fined $100,000 for ‘public statements, including by president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse, that were inconsistent with Embiid’s health status and in violation of NBA rules, including the league’s Player Participation Policy.’

Embiid has played in just three games, Maxey is out with an injury and offseason acquisition Paul George is off to a poor start after dealing with an injury to open the season. Those three were supposed to be the centerpieces of a championship-caliber team, but they have not played a game together this season.

Embiid, the 2022-23 MVP, missed Philadelphia’s first six games with a left knee issue, was suspended without pay for shoving a reporter in the locker room and has not looked good in the three games he has played, averaging 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds and shooting 32.4% from the field.

The Sixers have several new players, including George, who signed a four-year, $211.5 million deal with Philadelphia in free agency in the offseason, Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Guerschon Yabusele and rookie Jared McCain.

They were expected to compete with Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. If there’s a positive, it’s that after Cleveland and Boston at the top of the East, teams are bunched, and Philadelphia is just four games behind fifth-place Atlanta.

There’s time for the Sixers to get healthy and turn their season around. But clearly, there is plenty of work to do.

ESPN first reported the details of the team meeting.