The 76ers had every reason to celebrate on March 1, 2025. With a frustrating nine-game losing streak behind them, the team finally snapped the skid and beat the Golden State Warriors 126-119. While Quentin Grimes erupted for a career-high 44 points, what happened following the final buzzer was the tale that everyone will remember.
Inside the Sixers’ locker room, there was joy after weeks of frustration. Cheers, laughter and high-fives went up as players gathered around Grimes to heap praise on him. And leading the celebration? Joel Embiid.
Despite being sidelined for the season with a knee injury, Joel Embiid’s presence was impossible to ignore. The Sixers’ franchise star, who has been at the center of trade rumors and speculation, was front and center in the team’s post-game celebration—fully engaged, fully locked in.
The team’s official Instagram account even posted a picture of Embiid and Tyrese Maxey hyping up Quentin Grimes, their excitement undeniable, their smiles genuine. In a season filled with uncertainty and setbacks, this moment served as a powerful reminder—no matter what challenges come their way, the Sixers’ bond remains unshaken.
Head coach Nick Nurse made sure to highlight that camaraderie. “This team has been through a lot, but what you saw tonight is the heart of this group,” Nurse said. “Grimes stepped up in a big way, and everyone in that room felt it.“
While Grimes’ heroics dominated the headlines, the bigger takeaway might have been the mood shift within the team. The Sixers have been battling more than just on-court struggles—behind the scenes, tensions have been simmering.
Private Meeting Raises Questions About Embiid’s Future
Despite the unity displayed in the locker room, outside of those walls the reality is far more complex.
Just a few days before the Sixers’ emotional win, NBA insider Shams Charania dropped a bombshell report. Joel Embiid had personally visited team owner Josh Harris for a key meeting. There was more than a hint of a deeper divide between star center Embiid and the organization at the meeting, which centered on Embiid’s severity of injury and his future with the franchise.
Charania writes that Embiid and the Sixers had been at odds over his approach to treatment. The reigning MVP reportedly wanted a different rehab plan than the team did. The argument became so intense that the Sixers had to resort to monthly injections in order to keep him on the court.
The decision of season-ending surgery then came. However, the team publicly stated their support for Embiid, but Charania’s report showed that the trust between the two parties had broken down.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back when discussing the situation, stating on live TV, “Joel Embiid is officially done. Not retirement done, but he’s not the same player anymore.” Perkins also made vague accusations about Embiid’s “bad habits” during the Olympics, fueling speculation that the Sixers might be questioning their long-term investment in him.
Feb 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
So what does this all mean?
That the Sixers’ locker room celebration was of a team that is indeed still fighting together on one hand. The players still won without their superstar, still found a way to win and did it in the spirit of the game. However, despite the swirling rumors and his injury, Embiid was still an emotional pillar of the team.
On the other hand, the shadow of that private meeting still looms large. Behind the scenes, conversations are being had that shouldn’t come easy, and the Sixers might be celebrating now. Philadelphia’s front office has a franchise altering decision with over $300 million committed to Embiid for the next five years.
For now, the 76ers will move forward with renewed momentum, set to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. But as the season unfolds, one question will linger: Is Joel Embiid still the future of this team?
The post Joel Embiid’s Post-Game Moment With Quentin Grimes Says Everything About 76ers Locker Room After Reports of Private Meeting Emerge appeared first on EssentiallySports.
