The Philadelphia 76ers have opened the season with a strong 3-0 record, but much of the conversation surrounding the team centers on off-court issues, particularly those involving franchise star Joel Embiid and his ongoing health issues. Recently, one of Embiid’s former teammates shared a blunt take on the big man.
What Did Joel Embiid’s Former Teammate Say About Him?
Forward Marcus Morris, who played alongside Embiid during the 2023-24 season, discussed his former teammate in a recent live stream. Morris didn’t hold back, saying:
“Embiid is a great player, I just think, you know over time, me personally only being there for a half a year, just seeing some of the things that I’ve seen, just coming from different teams and seeing people at that level work as hard as they did, but not really seeing Embiid do the same, kind of threw me off.”
Morris added, “The production overmatched the work ethic. (When) he had 70 last year, he did not warm up. Literally, he did not warm up. He might have came in 22 minutes before the game started and went for 70.”
When healthy, Embiid remains one of the most dominant forces in the NBA. During the 2023-24 campaign, when Morris witnessed his 70-point outburst against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, Embiid averaged 34.7 points in just 33.6 minutes per game. However, his season was cut short by a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.
Marcus Morris doesn’t think Joel Embiid works as hard as he should
“Just coming from different teams and seeing people at that level work as hard as they did, but not really seeing him do the same. Like, it kind of threw me off because his production still matched…He had 70… pic.twitter.com/CD6vnIv2rt
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 28, 2025
This isn’t the first time Embiid has been criticized by a teammate. Last season, reports surfaced that All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey confronted Embiid in a team meeting about his tardiness and lack of accountability.
Embiid had played for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, helping them secure a gold medal. But soon after, knee problems resurfaced, eventually leading to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Given his history, some have questioned whether Embiid will ever be fully healthy again, especially after 76ers president Daryl Morey signed him to a three-year, $192.9 million contract extension before last season.
Embiid’s knee issues have limited him to just 64 games over the past two seasons, including in the playoffs. He’s played in two games so far this season, averaging 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest on 40.0% shooting from the field and 30.0% from 3.
This season, it hasn’t been Embiid leading the charge for the 76ers but their backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
