The Philadelphia 76ers are navigating through turbulent waters this season, with a dismal 3-13 record that has them in 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
The team’s struggles have been magnified by internal tension, particularly after a leaked report exposed a heated team meeting following a blowout loss to the Miami Heat.
At the center of the controversy is a reported confrontation where Tyrese Maxey called out Joel Embiid for consistently being late to team activities.
The situation has drawn widespread attention, with NBA legend Charles Barkley weighing in on the team’s internal dynamics during Tuesday’s “Inside the NBA” segment.
When Jalen Rose brought up the reports of Embiid’s chronic tardiness, Barkley didn’t mince words.
“You can’t be late all the time. That’s disrespectful to your teammates and your coaches and everybody. First, Joel has to own that,” he emphasized.
“You cannot be late all the time… Joel [Embiid] needs to own that”
Chuck weighs in on the drama in Philadelphia 👀 pic.twitter.com/xLadcnh4TN
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) November 27, 2024
Barkley’s frustration extended beyond Embiid’s punctuality issues. He was particularly concerned about the meeting’s details being leaked to the media, suggesting that the person responsible deserved serious consequences.
“But whoever leaked that to the press needs to be punched in the face,” Barkley declared.
Despite his criticism, Barkley acknowledged the complexity of team dynamics.
He emphasized that while Embiid needs to take responsibility for his tardiness, the internal conversations should have remained private.
The incident has exposed deeper issues within the 76ers’ team chemistry and leadership.
With mounting pressure and internal tensions, the 76ers will need to find a way to unite and turn their season around.
