The Philadelphia 76ers' start to the season has gone about as poorly as you could imagine.
Center Joel Embiid played in just three games before Nov. 20 due to injury and a suspension involving a physical confrontation with a member of the media.
The 2023 MVP is averaging just 14.7 points on 32.4% shooting and 6.3 rebounds per game, a far cry from what he's capable of producing. This changed to an extent with a bounce-back performance Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Sixers were supposed to be competing for a top record in the league and a championship following their off-season acquisition of Paul George.
However, that move wasn't enough to appease the face of the franchise. Instead, he preferred to reunite with a teammate he spent less than one season with, according to Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
“He wanted Jimmy Butler," Goodwill said. "He told the 76ers, ‘Go get my guy'… I don’t think Joel Embiid has been happy, even though they wound up getting Paul George. He wanted Jimmy Butler back over there.”
Despite their short time playing with each other, Embiid clearly has a ton of respect for Butler.
“Jimmy is Jimmy,” Embiid said after Monday’s game against the Miami Heat. “He does everything, scoring and passing the ball. … On both sides of the floor, he’s one of the best players in the NBA, probably top five, probably the best actually – the best player in the league.”
Embiid and Butler helped the Sixers take the eventual champion Toronto Raptors to seven games in the 2019 Eastern Conference Semi Finals before Kawhi Leonard's bounce around the world iced the series.
It's fair to wonder how deep that Sixers team featuring an in-prime Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris could've gone had this group had more time together.
Perhaps they could make up for lost time if Embiid has his way.
MORE SIXERS NEWS: Ex-76ers guard adds juicy details to Tyrese Maxey-Joel Embiid locker room situation
