The unfolding drama of Joel Embiid’s journey with the Philadelphia 76ers keeps fans and analysts intrigued, as recent developments have brought a particular exchange back into everyone’s mind. Embiid, the reigning MVP, has undoubtedly made his mark on the court. However, persistent injury worries have led many to question his long-term place in Philadelphia.
Interestingly, you can now safely say that one team won’t be his destination: the Indiana Pacers. This revelation came to light in Netflix’s latest docuseries “Court of Gold,” which follows Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A candid moment was captured between Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers and Embiid himself. Haliburton, ever the hopeful recruiter, asked Embiid if he’d consider coming to Indianapolis.
Embiid’s response was clear and somewhat humorous. “Never in my life. I would rather retire,” he replied, as reported by Evan Sidery for Forbes.
This amusing exchange was even highlighted on Twitter:
Tyrese Haliburton tried his hand at recruiting Joel Embiid to the Pacers during the Olympics, using Netflix as his platform:
Haliburton: “You gonna come to Indy?”
Embiid: “Never in my life, I’d rather retire.” pic.twitter.com/twGV48MrLW
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) February 18, 2025
In hindsight, that playful jab hasn’t aged well.
The reality for the 76ers now is quite different from their championship aspirations before the season started. Embiid’s health has been a critical issue; he’s only managed to play 17 games due to a nagging knee injury. On the flip side, the Pacers have pleasantly surprised many by becoming one of the league’s unexpected bright spots, building on their impressive march to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
This ironic twist of fortunes makes Embiid’s firm denial of any future with the Pacers even more notable.
Next Up: Kevin Garnett Calls For 1 NBA Star To ‘Shut It Down’
