Report: Joel Embiid Was Angry Details Of Team Meeting In Which 76ers Players Called Him Out Leaked To Public

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Joel Embiid was angry details of a team meeting in which Philadelphia 76ers players called him out leaked to the public. 

The team meeting took place in November in Miami. 

“There was the team meeting in Miami in November in which fellow players called him out for his lack of professionalism, including comments from star teammate Tyrese Maxey, who specifically pointed to Embiid’s tardiness to team events,” Windhorst wrote. “While he has since patched up any lingering tension with Maxey, Embiid was angry that details of the meeting became public, sources said, and attempted to identify a possible leak.”

Embiid appeared in only 19 games this season. He averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 44.4% from the field, 29.9% from beyond the arc and 88.2% from the free-throw line. 

The Sixers shut Embiid down for the season due to his ongoing left knee issues. The NBA star may need another knee surgery. 

Philadelphia signed Embiid to a three-year, $192 million extension in September 2024. Embiid is owed $248.1 million over the next four seasons.

A Kansas product, Embiid has career averages of 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He’s made seven All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams. 

If Embiid isn’t playing in February 2026, the Sixers could petition for a medical NBA retirement.

“The determination on whether Embiid suffered a career-ending injury would be made by a physician selected by the NBA and the players’ association,” per ESPN. “If that’s the case, then starting on Feb. 22, 2026 (one year from the last game Embiid played), Philadelphia could apply to the NBA to have Embiid’s salary for the years of his contract removed from its cap sheet. The Sixers would also have to waive Embiid.

“If the injury is not determined to be career-ending but is significant enough that Embiid would miss all of the 2025-26 season, then the 76ers could apply for a disabled player exception that would be worth the same as the non-taxpayer midlevel exception (since 50% of Embiid’s salary is higher than that mark).”