The NBA All-Star starters were announced Thursday and Joel Embiid was nowhere to be found.
76ers President Daryl Morey is furious, and he knows who’s to blame.
“Completely hosed once again,” Morey said Friday morning on Philadelphia’s 97.5 The Fanatic. “This time, to your point, the perpetrators of the crime were the shameless media, who most of them have recused themselves because they don’t want the vote on something that affect players’ paychecks.
“But the shameless Boston media is way overrepresented. They haven’t recused themselves, and they shoved Joel low enough so that he’s not an All-Star starter. It’s crazy.”
This will be the first time in five years that Embiid won’t be representing the Eastern Conference as an All-Star starter. He leads the league in scoring at a whopping 33.4 points per game, while also averaging just under ten rebounds per contest. The Sixers also hold the third-best record in the NBA and are only 2.5 games out of first place in the East. Most times, that resume will make a player an All-Star Game starter.
Daryl Morey had Joel Embiid’s back when it was revealed the 76ers star was not among the All-Star Game starters. AP
Half of the final vote is based on fan ballots and the rest comes from media and player votes. Embiid finished third among Eastern Conference frontcourts player and media voting and fourth in fan voting.
Head coach Doc Rivers weighed in on the situation, stating the league is in need of an All-Star Game voting format change.
“It’s the vote thing. I think the voting thing is flawed the way they do it.” Rivers said. “I just think it should be the five best guys, and they figure it out. It should be positionless. That’s what the league is. I don’t know what’s taking our league so long to figure it out.”
Joel Embiid (21) is averaging a league-best 33.4 points per game this season. AP
Embiid’s teammates Tyrese Maxey and Georges Niang believe this snub will only put a chip on his shoulder.
“That’s crazy,” said Maxey. “He’ll go out there, and maybe he’ll use it as motivation to keep killing. I don’t think he needs much motivation for that, but he’s balling right now.”
“He’s an All-Star starter in my eyes,” Georges Niang added. “I think Joel will come out tomorrow and show people why he should be an All-Star starter. Maybe it’s a good thing.”
The 76ers host arguably best team in the NBA, the Denver Nuggets, on Saturday afternoon. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic’s status is day-to-day, but if he does indeed play, then fans better get your popcorn ready.