Joel Embiid after playoff exit: Sixers ‘gotta get better from top to bottom’

The Sixers saw their postseason run come to a decisive end. Now it’s all about what comes next.

Philadelphia was swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, including a lopsided Game 4 loss. After the game, Joel Embiid pointed to a need for improvement across the organization.

“At times, it’s OK to just say the other team was better,” Embiid said, via Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. “Gotta get better, from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches. Everybody just gotta get better.”

Embiid still viewed the season as a step forward on a personal level, citing progress with his left knee after multiple surgeries.

“We came into the season thinking there was not much left… I thought I was done,” he said, via Kyle Neubeck.

He added he feels “as confident as ever” in the knee going forward.

Embiid also revealed he dealt with complications following an emergency appendectomy late in the regular season, which impacted his conditioning and overall health entering the playoffs.

“The things that I’ve been dealing with, they’ve all been related to the surgery,” he said. “Coming back early, the core was weak… jumping right to playoff basketball, that was tough.”

Asked about legacy, Embiid kept it simple.

“I want to win more than anyone,” he said. “It sucks to lose. I haven’t won anything, so that hurts.”

There were some positives. Embiid and coach Nick Nurse both praised rookie VJ Edgecombe, with Embiid calling him a player who “has a chance to be extremely special.”