What does James Harden’s exit from 76ers tell you about Joel Embiid? | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Philadelphia 76ers are exploring trade options for James Harden after he opted into his $35.6M deal. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes debate what Harden’s presumed exit tells you about Joel Embiid as a teammate?
#FirstThingsFirst #NBA #76ers
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Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes team up on First Things First. The trio offers their take on a bevy of sports stories alongside special guests from across the sports world.
What does James Harden’s exit from 76ers tell you about Joel Embiid? | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST
• What does James Harden...
First Things First
/ firstthingsfirst

[@FirstThingsFirst]

Check out the What’s Wright? with Nick Wright podcast: sprtspod.fox/WhatsWright_YT

[@Fresh0710]

Nick - “So in this analogy you’re the league MVP of sports television?”

[@jehushaphat]

He sure is the MVP though. LOL

[@Mahoota11]

I was crying 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@benbarson2810]

His words not mine 😂😂😂

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

"Ben Simmons is.... I want to use the correct terminology.... THE WORST." - Nick Wright

[@MarcAmAlb]

For once, Nick is not wrong.

[@jujutaco8487]

​@@MarcAmAlb😂

[@davidmejia8500]

@@MarcAmAlbhe’s usually right than wrong. Stop being a hater.

[@djnes2k7]

Lmao somebody in the back laughed extra hard lol

[@entertainmentrevision]

SHAME ON YOU. Brus, EMBIID NEVER DESERVED MVP. JAYSON TATUM HAD BETTER NUMBERS AND WASN'T EVEN CONSIDERED. JAYSON WAS BETTER IN TOTAL POINTS HE OUTSCORED & OUTPLAYED EMBIID. PPG ARE A SCAM. JOEL IS A LOAD MANAGEMENT LOAFER. HE MISSES A LOAD OF GAMES EVERY SEASON. HE'S INJURING GUYS WHILE HE CLUMSILY HURTS HIMSELF IN THE PROCESS. NOT AS MUCH THIS SEASON. STILL,.THE PROCESS IS OVER.

[@CouchCit]

I love how Nick highlighted just how ridiculous their own headline topic was.

[@cowboysfanlonghornsfanspur5132]

How he cry’s and whines

[@insertlastname]

How he can’t get out of the second round or stay healthy

[@JacquesSays]

Unlike skip o do believe him when he says he doesn't pick the topics

[@kerroncampbell8076]

​@@JacquesSaysb

[@kerroncampbell8076]

​@@JacquesSays😊😊 JB😊

[@TaylorMadeStreams]

Wildes. “Nothing got me fired up there, imma be honest” 😂😂😂

[@dizzydacure8226]

I love this show! Wildes has come a long way. He seemed out of place at first. Now he's my favorite. Lol

[@itsnewyt]

Still out of place.

[@roncharls8162]

@@itsnewytHe’s not.

[@slaysyu915]

​@itsnewyt Finally, someone said it. Idk why everyone nut rides this guy so hard. Every video comment section be like wildes wildes wildes. I'm thinking really? Are we watching the same show? Dude is mostly annoying with a terrible haircut

[@mattgehrke3115]

Wildes is great

[@Amir-rk3mz]

@@itsnewytbozo take

[@trollinthedungeon5255]

James harden has had more star teammates leave, or he himself leaves, than embiid and it’s not even close.

[@IlmaliklI]

embiid has left harden out there to play in 2-3 games while he’s injured every second round he’s been there… if embiid wasn’t giving these teams a 2 game handicap they might have made the finals by now

[@sdogg]

Embiid chokes harder than Harden

[@slimecaltg6740]

who left harden???

[@trollinthedungeon5255]

Harden leaves first. The point I was making was that harden does not play well with others. His style of play has always led to collapses in the playoffs.

[@revealingtruth3329]

@@sdoggOh really. Embiid has averaged 31ppg in several playoff series including one against Boston. Harden has never done this

[@dagarob_c]

I love this trio!! 🙏🏽💪🏽

[@philipoconnor5865]

You're my MVP Brou

[@babyyames]

The laughs in the background make this show more authentic 🤣🤣🤣💪🏾

[@SojiRo23]

Embid whines a lot, plays poorly in the playoffs and blames his losses on his teammates. Guys don’t believe in him just like they don’t believe in Doc.

[@tjr2312]

He always puts the blame on himself too what are you saying lol. And you can’t blame him for throwing Ben under the bus I mean come on

[@slaysyu915]

​ @tjr2312 WHAT!? How about when post game he said him and Flopten can't do it alone and teammates need to get better while being outscored by said teammates.

[@sup9542]

Also falls a lot and sometimes falls on teammates and ends their careers.

[@MrKeysjimmy]

​@tjr2312 dude always blames every1 else

[@serbianwarrior385]

​@@tjr2312He never does that tf u talking about 😂?Always when he gets eliminated he blames teammates, always!

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Lmao that salty pretzel analogy is so good

[@slaysyu915]

No it isn't.

[@Koolej98]

🤣

[@kefkapalazzo1]

@@slaysyu915 why not?

[@slaysyu915]

@kefkapalazzo1 It's a casual's take. Something a non sports fan would say. Something your gf or buddy that doesn't know anything about sports would come up with.

[@kefkapalazzo1]

@@slaysyu915 absurd

[@quazeR323]

ESPN just fired Jalen “81” Rose and Jeff van Gundy. Please FS1… KEEP THIS CORE AT ALL COSTS.

[@sbcandmagnum]

Embidd doesn't have the mind to lead a team through a champion chip run.

[@DoBenni]

Shannon Sharpe leaving means that Undisputed or whatever comes next is unwatchable. ESPN fired everyone worth watching. At least this show still delivers.

[@cjp1599]

Nah, Stephen A is watchable again with Max being gone...

[@David-lf6rr]

@@cjp1599not even close

[@johnnyceetv1987]

Best show in sports entertainment

[@distinctga5811]

Joel Embiid is out here throwing everybody under the bus in front of the media, imagine how he talks about these players in the locker room.

[@tylerherron665]

Exactly lol they couldn’t have been more wrong on this segment

[@oreoakalaperoji8314]

It's a misunderstanding due to cultural differences... Americans will call it "throwing under the bus" he would call it "calling the kettle black" especially with a limited vocabulary. I think he was frustrated because he felt like they relied on him too much. But he's mvp so...

[@distinctga5811]

@@oreoakalaperoji8314 It's not a misunderstanding due to cultural differences. Embiid is blame shifting. He has one of the best, if not the best supporting cast in the league, but seemingly can't handle playoff basketball.

[@sadeugas8037]

Embiid is a great midrange shooter but anyone his size is doing the other team a favour by settling for a fadeaway instead of backing down his defender and either kicking out when doubled or punishing the mismatch(which is almost always the case) and getting a shot in the paint and potentially an and 1.

[@mbrum3230]

Well put. Joker really showed the contrast this year.

[@allycat3338]

Facts

[@marcusaurelius5149]

Embiid plays too small.

[@tee_swag]

his trainer shut up when I told him to teach Emfraud post up moves and tell him to not chicken out under the basket😂

[@yankeefederer1994]

If Embiid never leaves Philly, he is going to always have excuses because the organization is incompetent. But is he a big game player in the playoffs? No. He isn't that guy. He's whiny, and doesn't know what playoff excellence really entails. Injuries don't help either

[@itachiuchiha-oh1xo]

To be honest most of these players in the league are whiny. It’s the circumstances of how the game is called. Now if you mean off the court I don’t know as much. But everyone is always looking for a call instead of just playing basketball

[@MrQuicky2407]

Remember when embiid blamed his teammates for losing, when they outscored him?!

[@MARS-qm9qt]

I do

[@czrs85]

Love how some people never blame the organization for not doing enough to keep the players.

[@russellchung3119]

That's just for the NBA. In the MLB, it's the opposite story.

[@ImAviex]

I mean sure, that's valid but everything takes context. This context is that Harden is flaky af and has a bad case of the grass is greener syndrome. He forced his way out of Houston by being out of shape and playing like a shell of himself, not to mention how he asked for Chris Paul barely utilized him and then asked for his best friend Westbrook until he realized that don't work either, he forced his way out of the Nets and now wants to leave another contending team to what? Join another team where he thinks, "Now things will be different!" yeah sorry if I don't blame Philly for this one. I do however blame tf out of Philly for choosing Ben Simmons over Jimmy Butler. Even if Simmons stayed on his trajectory and was a superstar right now, the idea that you could play both Ben and Embiid on the floor and Embiid NOT get doubled every possession is laughable.

[@_theperfectvibe]

Who didn’t do enough?! The Sixers?!

[@sdogg]

The organisation didn't make Embiid shoot poorly yet again in another big crunch playoff match

[@tee_swag]

yet Emfraud has had how many all-stars? Is he the new Lebron with the "need more help"?😂

[@BF-vg8sx]

"So in this analogy you're the league MVP of sports television?" 😂😂😂 Shannon Sharpe is gone. These guys are the best combo on sports TV . Hands down..

[@jackieraytv5171]

Just Hope Joel Want the Finals MVP more than he did the Regular

[@peace_of_mind_00]

If the sixers lose harden for the trade packages i saw from the Knicks & clippers. Then I don't see the sixers being any better than what are now with embiid & Maxey.

[@ceemoney1636]

Free agency

[@beewh001]

His probably gonna cry himself to getting finals MVP 😂

[@Hunchopronto]

Nawl he not like Jokic and Malone . Y’all say he cried for the MVP like the Nuggets won’t doing it 😂😂 I know why

[@jackieraytv5171]

@@Hunchopronto Nawl tell me why? the Nuggets had back to back MVP's no need for crying lol...But Joel deserved it this year for sho

[@mattfranklin1684]

I’m with Wildes, “Nothing got me too fired up there” 😂🤦🏽‍♂️🤣

[@TuanLe-ee6ov]

The salty pretzel metaphor hit the spot

[@isiah675]

He's always sneaky hurt 🤣

[@rorydougherty]

I’m a nuggets fan… life is good. 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

[@brandoni241]

This is more about the 76ers front office. Theyve made terrible decisions. Chose Ben, Tobias, and Brett Brown (who they fired the next season) over Jimmy was just stupid. The other 2 were just bad luck...

[@revealingtruth3329]

Facts

[@Unusualsuspect24]

Embid is made of glass and could never last through a finals run. Who WOULD want to play with him if they're seeking a championship?

[@M-Cherian]

I want to use the exact term.."the WORST" 😂😂😂 Oh Nick...brilliant.

[@Mahoota11]

"He gave him a Rolex and JETTED!" - Brou 😂😂😂😂😂

[@devhir595]

when are yall gonna blame embiid? seriously

[@Marley11st]

as a 6ers fan, this is something Ive been saying for a while, Jo hasn't been healthy his Entire career during playoff time, and that's not even an exaggeration

[@pfpchad2747]

FACTS! The previous FO deserves a lot of the blame but so does Embiid fore never ever being able to stay healthy.

[@EricMrRareAir]

they’ll never blame Embiid 😂 they slander Harden for Game 6 & 7 more than Embiid even though he’s the 2nd option! even though Harden is the ONLY reason they got to Game 7 😂 2 40 pieces & 2 Game Winners

[@xcwilliams7980]

Blame Embiid for what? Because these guys have him blame for coming up short

[@TheOne-ql8qd]

Did you listen to the show lol

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Ben Simmons IS the worst smh

[@cheerioss-9121]

4:34 “when you look at the specific instances” this is gold coming off the last segment and even yesterday where they bashed Harden for leaving and “running” from competition and the grind from each team, when each instance there was a valid reason.

[@aesirgaming1014]

I think Nick is just blind to Embiid's major shortcomings. Boston has the right scheme and right players. They stop him up top, prevent him from getting steam on a cut or drive into the paint. Embiid lacks court vision, so he misses the open man and dribbles into bad jumpers. This is the difference between Embiid and Jokic. You can double Embiid from the far corner and he looks lost and either turns it over or takes a bad shot. If you double Jokic, he makes the read and passes to the uncovered man, which leads to a good look. The easiest way to fix this is to take the ball out of Embiid's hands. Let him jog/cut into the paint and stand there for passes into the post or paint. It'd be easy to blame coaching here, since there's no reason to be giving Embiid out by the three point line. However, I've seen this with two different coaches, so it makes me think that this is what Embiid wants and the franchise is bending to his wishes. However, I think the team will be much better if they take the ball away from Embiid, put it in the hands of a point guard and run pick and roll and/or passing to Embiid once he's already established a presence in the paint.

[@ericm.3054]

Broussard is funny AF! A real 🐐!!

[@mattsargent5041]

My take would be that Embid asked over and over again to get him ball to win mvp. Which cost him a coach and several moves around him until he did. For Philly this year was all about him getting it. No matter usage percentage or anything. I believe the organization had the wrong mindset. This would make a veteran say…okay your paying me a lot of money and I will comply, but it seems like a toxic mentality and not winning ball

[@jdilla4591]

I love Embid he is one of the most talented bigs ever… but he hasn’t shown that he is the guy!!! He has no leadership qualities when it’s tough

[@slaysyu915]

So why do you love him? For being soft? Or for being a coward that disappears in big games then blames teammates?

[@jdilla4591]

@@slaysyu915 because he is one of the most talented bigs ever lol that doesn’t mean he’s perfect. His leadership is questionable and he hasn’t been in the best of shape in the post season for years

[@slaysyu915]

@@jdilla4591 So you still haven't said why you LOVE him. Cuz his talent? Talent for being soft? Or talent for being a coward? Or talent for crying about mvp? Or as you suggest talent for eating 4 Chick fil A shakes and being out of shape? Please let me know.

[@5280Misfit]

@@jdilla4591throws his team under the bus and never takes any heat lol

[@zxcvfr4321]

Yes Nick, he is the MVP of sports radio

[@esbensrensen6604]

LeBron and D Wade syndrom from 2011. Emilid fascilitating to much to Harden. Demand the ball!!

[@oreoakalaperoji8314]

To be honest I think they rely way too much on Embiid. And it's why they lost...

[@devonpatel6687]

“In this analogy, you’re the league MVP of sports?” ☠️

[@TheAndre2crump]

The nothing got me to fired up there from Wildes had me dyingggggg lol

[@dskwared2u610]

This show always makes me hungry with fruit pies, pizza pies, crumbl cookies and now pretzels.

[@MikeJones-cs8gi]

I love it! Brou is league MVP of Sports Prognostication.

[@ImElectro]

Wilds has to be trolling here, there’s no way he’s blaming embiid for fultz, Simmons or butler 😂

[@sheraldhill2728]

Did you forget one?

[@ramboslice591]

“No names got me fired up” 😂😂

[@obiwanyutuben]

Nicks comment about bru being league MVP was incredibly sharp.

[@oparisleclerc]

Good correction by Wildes, Nick is the analogy guy not the metaphor guy, that’s Wildes.

[@vidalrodriguez2001]

I’m very much in agreement with Nick here, the headline is off, it definitely says more about Harden than Embiid, especially with how Jimmy previously, like Nick said, definitely didn’t wanna leave Philly, there was room to build and grow there. Plus, Ben Simmons’ horrific regression is his own doing!😂

[@kowaikokoro]

next year gonna be spicy if the mavs regress same for the sixers then luka magic and bumbiid are on the market. gonna be crazy to see how the league shapes up in the next 3 years

[@tonyrame7548]

Embiid came closest to winning with Butler for half a year, Ben Simmons is a bust player at this point, and James Harden is a perennial playoff choker that leaves every team he goes to at this point in his career.

[@Camefromnone]

I agree with nick on this

[@LeoDunsonMinistries]

Jimmy Butler does not love Embiid lol He's a big soft center. Didn't deserve the MVP

[@Unusualsuspect24]

7:46 Holy h, i cant with this show; on god. Dying of tears from laugjing so hard lol 😅

[@LUCKSOMNIXDIABLOTHEONEABOVEALL]

I died too. Heart attack...from laughter. Very sad. My funerals tomorrow.

[@technicaltradergabe1390]

LMFAOOO NAH THESE GUYS ARE HILARIOUS

[@emanuelfrederick9897]

I believe part of being a true Superstar and greatness you must do more than score but get everyone else involved as a team making everyone else look good and you're still going to get get yours and at the end you win.

[@T.H.U.G]

Joel will be in Miami in few years

[@DrezzyDre]

On Miami's conditioning program Embiid would be crazy

[@spandsbab]

Beautiful take from Nick Wrong

[@johnbrown757]

It doesnt say anything. Unless you hear the said superstar say it was Embid fault then it only speaks of City of Philly and the Sixers organization

[@Dmitch1408]

Joel Embiid with the fake MVP... My guy knows he needs to give that thing back. When are we going to start to question Joel because this guy has had multiple stores at his side with no results... Jimmy, Ben, Harden... And nothing

[@tetsuoshima9682]

best sports show!!

[@cosmoguarriellojr3479]

They need a back up center, a point guard etc... Go after Dillon Brooks, Pat Bev, the Wagner Brothers, Anfernee Simons, and Cameron Payne

[@lexluthor4156]

The rockets, despites how cheap the new owner was, honored CP3's "Wink deal" when CP3 didn't played well and everyone thought he's done. This one is not on Embiid or Harden, but the 76ers's organization-- just like when Jimmy left.

[@paperro933]

I agree with Nicks take. Fultz was not good. Butler wanted to be in Philly, Simmons had a mental breakdown and Harden folds in the playoffs more than any superstar in history

[@arturocolin2292]

Looks like this crew and Cowherd are keeping FS1 afloat.

[@dhobbsrule76]

1st time E.S.P.Narratives done held a Harden teammate accountable.

[@smk4428]

Neither of them believe there is an issue with embiid, I've never heard anyone say folks have left because of embiid, so why would they take 10 minutes to talk about this?

[@rconn4501]

1. Brou 2. Wildes 3. Nick

[@davidmejia8500]

Nick Brou wildes

[@georgec488]

💯

[@waltercerdas6071]

You can't depend on Embid for a championship, process should continue but on another team.

[@dbarz]

Salty Pretzel 😄👍👍

[@TheFallen3]

I always thought Philly should’ve drafted Ingram, I bet my boy $20 Philly would and lost that

[@foriegnuniter]

Outside of Jimmy Butler, who is the player the Sixers traded away that they wish they had back?

[@anythingforclicks]

This the best on tv sports show

[@larrydavis_htx]

Gotta admit, these 3 are like red, white and blue. They just flow.

[@mrb.2497]

Awesome Puerto Rican flag reference.

[@davidhojnacki1043]

Wildes take here is absolutely ridiculous how many teams has harden left? Fultz is not a star butler didn’t wanna leave and the fact he is trying to defend Simmons is insane Ben doesn’t wanna play basketball anywhere

[@donalvarez4006]

Never thought I'd say this but I'm with Nick and this one. That Markel Fultz criticism was a reach 😅

[@jimboduquesne9051]

Brou is special for voting Embiid over Jokic for MVP

[@yusufm1649]

my boy sure got uncomfortable when no one agreed with him … he was going to destroy embid 😂

[@marianoortega6725]

Nick still caping for Embfraud I see

[@xcwilliams7980]

​@cleancuts8116 he has jokic top2 and he doesn't have embiid near the top 5.

[@jjsavior]

Butler wanted to play with him, simmons is a joke, and harden dont wanna work.

[@zombietactical]

Pretty clear that Jokic should have won MVP.

[@Beaverto]

Yep, very clear in hindsight but even before Jokic’s playoff run it should have been Jokic. He’s definitely more valuable to his team and his teammates. Embiid was brought to tears winning MVP, then folded in the playoffs.

[@MARS-qm9qt]

@@Beaverto😂 💯

[@BasicBodThor]

Brou needs his Crumble Cookies!

[@Johenz]

Ben Simmons 😂 😂😂

[@tamirch1]

Brou for MVP!

[@emanuelfrederick9897]

Joel embiid without a doubt is a great player and yes a a superstar in MVP, BUT unless he is willing to change his game and learn to utilize his Talents as a dominating Big Man in paint, like "THE BOARD of DIRECTORS". Jokic for the Denver Nuggets is a prime example as to the development & adjustments that Joel Embiid needs to work on, for his game to get to another level, then he will begin to see real Greatest. Positioning himself with the option of past or shoot and dominating in every way just like jokic did 🤔👍

[@underrated9966]

The question is what should it tell u about Harden?

[@lopaka526]

Good thing Wildes is around to school Nick in literary devices before Nick gets handed the keys from Colin.

[@user-uf3zt9ph9i]

It's very ridiculous teams are still paying for Ben Simmons. He's done the same things way too many years in a row. At what point are ppl gonna call his mental problems bc of a bad year ( which an uncountable amount of high draft picks have had and some haters talking bothering them) bs. He's just wanting to get paid without having to work. It's laziness. Teams have allowed him to do it so long he's just enjoying getting huge paydays without having to perform and prove his worth. He's gotten comfortable sitting out and probably is afraid to play bc he doesn't want to be exposed as a player not worth the money he is paid

[@kingriot6860]

Fox needs to add the ESPN employees that got let go to there roster

[@melvinwright515]

It's the organization

[@OscarUnrated]

There’s at least a bit of blame on Embiid

[@eyemunchained8968]

😂 sneaky hurt 🤕

[@cheya111]

Harden and Embiid don't try to win games, they try to get fouls calls and play "you can't guard me" 😂 They are too distracted to win a championship.

[@Cdlee-oo9hn]

i thought butler left cuss he had problems with the coach. not because of harris but uf sixers chose harris over butler??!!! the gm needs to go

[@mdb1010]

It doesnt say much about embiid. This says alot about Harden

[@mysteriousj3019]

Brou is more deserving of that hypothetical media MVP than Joel ever was NBA MVP

[@TechMyLifeVideo]

It’s the 76ers, it’s not Embiid. Location location location.

[@oreoakalaperoji8314]

why do you think so?

[@CarelessAmbition]

Embid to BOSTON soon 😮😮😮

[@Kitu74]

Joel is the problem..Brown was the right coach..the Ben Simmons thing..they had Jimmy Butler..JJ a solid squad..why did all that talent bounce..now Doc..Harden..he's the problem obviously

[@UnwrittenPlaylist]

Harden for Dame you’ve heard it here first