DeMarcus Cousins delivered a sharp critique of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid during his appearance on Run It Back TV. He called out the reigning MVP’s focus as the team struggles to find its footing this season.
Cousins’ comments come after reports surfaced about internal friction within the Sixers’ locker room, including a clash between Embiid and young star Tyrese Maxey. The controversy began with a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania which highlighted a leadership struggle within the Sixers.
According to the report, Maxey had privately criticized Embiid for his tardiness. Embiid’s reaction to the leak was fiery as he vowed to hunt down the “rat” responsible for feeding information to the press. DeMarcus Cousins, however, believes his focus is misplaced.
I think Joel’s focus is in the wrong place. F**k who the rat is right now. Your team is struggling. Y’all look horrible this season It’s a lot of negativity coming your way, from the media from the organization from your teammates.
DeMarcus Cousins said on the podcast
Boogie thinks Joel Embiid is focused on the wrong thing and blames the 76ers organization for enabling behavior.
“F*** who the rat is. Your team is struggling, y’all look horrible this season. Go lock in, win some games.”
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) November 27, 2024
Cousins’ comments reflected his belief that Joel Embiid should prioritize salvaging the Sixers’ season rather than concerning himself with off-court distractions. As the 76ers sit near the bottom of the standings, Cousins emphasized that the team still has time to turn things around.
This is the time to right the ship. Let’s get back to the foundation, which is playing basketball. Go lock in, go win some games.
DeMarcus Cousins added
Cousins also pointed out that the Eastern Conference remains wide open, giving the Sixers a chance to climb back into playoff contention. However, he stressed that Embiid needs to channel his energy into leading his team on the court rather than fixating on internal politics.
Sixers Fall to 3-14 in Joel Embiid’s Continued Absence
The Philadelphia 76ers suffered another frustrating loss on Wednesday, falling 122-115 in overtime to the Houston Rockets. Joel Embiid missed his 13th game of the season due to ongoing injury management for his left knee, leaving the team shorthanded once again.
Tyrese Maxey delivered a stellar performance with 39 points, but it wasn’t enough to counter a 41-point explosion from Houston’s Jalen Green. The Sixers, also missing Paul George due to a knee hyperextension injury, have now dropped to a 3-14 record.
Their recent slump includes a 2-8 record in their last 10 games, further highlighting their struggles without Embiid. The Sixers’ lack of consistency, both in terms of roster availability and on-court performance, has been their undoing this season.
While Maxey has stepped up admirably in Embiid’s absence, Philadelphia has struggled to find secondary scoring and defensive stability. They next face the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
