Joel Embiid takes shot at Ben Simmons after James Harden’s 76ers debut
By Ethan Lee
It sure looks like Joel Embiid is having fun playing alongside James Harden. It’s only been one game so far, but Embiid definitely seems to be thrilled to have his new teammate.
So far, so good for Joel Embiid and James Harden.
Harden, who was moved from the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers in a monumental trade shortly before the NBA trade deadline, has a skill set that is drastically different to what Ben Simmons brings to the table.
So, when the 76ers decided to get Simmons out of Philadelphia and finally bring Harden to town, many were interested in seeing how things would work out with both the 76ers and the Nets and their new team members.
Again, so far, so good for Embiid and Harden.
Following a dominant 133-102 76ers victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday evening, Embiid laughed and mentioned how Harden’s presence is able to create more space for his teammates.
“That was probably the most wide-open I’ve ever been in my career,” Embiid said.
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Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid has fun playing alongside James Harden
When Embiid was presented with the opportunity to talk about his new teammate, he couldn’t stop gushing over Harden’s unique and impressive abilities on offense. Embiid couldn’t stop talking about Harden’s ability to create more shots.
“You should’ve seen my face, I’ve never had this!” Embiid said.
And of course, if you check the stat sheet, you’ll definitely see how Harden and Embiid thrived in their first game together. They were magnificent against Minnesota. While Embiid put up 34 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, Harden scored 27 points and dished out 12 assists.
Right along with Harden and Embiid was Tyrese Maxey, who scored 28 points and snagged four steals.
If the 76ers can continue to get these sorts of performances on a regular basis, they’ll be set up for a very successful postseason.