Joel Embiid Responds to Quiet Trade Deadline: “I Believe in Us”
LOS ANGELES - The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t exactly shake up the NBA landscape at the trade deadline - far from it. But if you thought Joel Embiid would let that derail his focus, think again.
Just hours after a tough loss to the Lakers and a trade deadline that came and went with barely a ripple for Philly, Embiid stood in front of the media with the same confidence and competitive fire that’s defined his career. The Sixers made only two minor moves: sending rookie guard Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for draft picks and dealing veteran shooter Eric Gordon to Memphis in a future pick swap.
No reinforcements came in. No splashy additions.
Just a little financial flexibility and a quieter-than-expected deadline.
That’s not exactly what Embiid had been hoping for.
A few weeks ago, he made it clear he wanted the front office to go for it - to stop ducking the luxury tax and give this team the best shot at a deep playoff run. Instead, the Sixers cleared salary and stood pat.
But in classic Embiid fashion, he didn’t sulk. He didn’t throw anyone under the bus. He doubled down on belief - in himself, in his teammates, and in the group that's already in the locker room.
“I don’t remember what I said a couple weeks ago,” Embiid said with a smile, glancing over at a nearby PR staffer. “But the only thing I said is I believe in myself.
I believe in Tyrese [Maxey]. I believe in everybody in this locker room.
The main thing is, I believe in ourselves. So, no matter what, we’re gonna go out there and compete and still try to win it.”
For those who do remember what Embiid said a few weeks back, it was a bit more pointed. He openly addressed the team’s recent history of avoiding the luxury tax and expressed hope that the front office would give the current roster a real chance to compete. He emphasized his love for the team’s chemistry and the belief that, with the right support, this group could make noise in the postseason.
“Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax the last couple of years,” he said then. “So hopefully we keep the same team.
I love all the guys that are here. I think we got a shot.”
That shot didn’t get any bigger at the deadline - but Embiid’s mindset hasn’t changed.
He knows the road ahead isn’t easy. The Sixers haven’t made it past the second round since 2001, and while Embiid has put together MVP-caliber seasons, the postseason heartbreak has piled up.
This year, he was hoping for a little more help to push through that ceiling. It didn’t come.
Still, he’s not backing down.
“I believe in myself, so I’m always gonna believe I have a chance as long as I’m healthy,” Embiid said. “I believe that we can beat anybody.
Obviously, you gotta win as a team. So, my goal is to also bring everybody along.”
There’s another wrinkle here, too: the Sixers are still waiting on Paul George to return from a 25-game suspension. That’s a huge piece of the puzzle, and Embiid made it clear just how much the team misses him.
“Obviously, we hold down the fort until PG comes back because he’s really needed and he’s irreplaceable,” Embiid said. “So yeah, just got to keep trying to get better.”
The Sixers continue their West Coast swing on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns, and while they didn’t add any new faces at the deadline, they’ve still got one of the most dominant players in the league leading the charge. And as long as Joel Embiid is healthy, he’s not just showing up - he’s coming to win.
No excuses. No hand-wringing. Just belief.