DeMarcus Cousins calls out Joel Embiid for misplacing priorities amid Sixers' slump: "F*** who the rat is"
When the Philadelphia 76ers got Paul George, they were penciled in as the biggest threat to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. However, they are 3-13 — 14th in the East and the second-worst record in the NBA.
Joel Embiid has barely played this season with yet another injury. There are doubts about his availability in back-to-backs going forward, and it seems like things aren't going well in the locker room.
On Nov. 19, Embiid called out whoever leaked to the media details about the Sixers' players only meeting. For former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins, he thinks Embiid needs to get his priorities in order.
"I feel like his focus is on the wrong place," Cousins said on FanDuel's 'Run It Back' on Wednesday. "F*** who the rat is. Your team is struggling, y'all look horrible this season. There's a lot of negativity coming your way, from the media, from the organization, from your teammates. This is time to right the ship. Let's get back to the foundation, which is playing basketball. Go lock in, go win some games."
Charles Barkley sides with Joel Embiid
It was reported that Tyrese Maxey called out Joel Embiid for his repeated tardiness and that it has affected the team. Notably, Sixers legend Charles Barkley agreed.
"You can't be late all the time," Barkley said on Tuesday on TNT. "That's disrespectful to your teammates and your coaches, and everybody. First, Joel has to own that."
Barkley also believes that the meeting should've never made its rounds to the media, saying that whoever leaked it to the press should also be held accountable.
"Whoever leaked that to the press needs to be punched in the face," Barkley said. "When you're in those meetings, they're very personal, especially when you're calling out a guy like that. Joel has to own being late all the time. He has to own it, but that should have never gotten to the press."
At the end of the day, the Sixers will continue to be Embiid's team and there will be certain demands and expectations from him as a franchise player.
The Sixers are deep and talented enough to still get the season back on track. Hopefully, Embiid will be healthy for the rest of the way and more importantly, locked in on leading the team.