Joel Embiid Isn’t Happy With His Role On The Sixers After Jimmy Butler Trade

Getty Image

i/Getty Images)


Jimmy Butler was traded to the Sixers less than a month ago but his presence appears to be irking big man Joel Embiid.

Since the Sixers acquired Butler last month, Embiid is shooting 43.1 percent and averaging 23.8 points per game in 11 games which is significantly down from the 48 percent and averaging 28.2 points per game he was averaging before the trade.

On Friday Embiid told reporters that he’s frustrated with his role as a stretch five after the team acquired Butler.

Via Philly.com

“I haven’t been myself lately,” “I think it’s mainly because of the way I’ve been used, which is I’m being used as a spacer, I guess, a stretch five, which I’m only shooting [29] percent” from three-point range.

“But it seems like the past couple games, like with the way I play, our setup, [Brown] always has me starting on the perimeter … and it just really frustrates me. My body feels great, and it’s just I haven’t been playing well.”

Embiid reiterated that he preferred to be in the paint instead of the perimeter but that hasn’t been happening much while Butler is the lineup with him.

“We sometimes have to space the floor,” Embiid said Friday. “A lot of time, actually, with the way our plays are set up, I tend to spend a lot of time on the perimeter. So it’s an adjustment.”

Sixers coach Brett Brown took responsibility and wants to make sure that Embiid is comfortable on the court.

“I don’t want to connect those dots,” “But I think in general we all have to do better at creating space for Joel.”

There’s also some adjustments to be made when there’s so much talent on a single team. We’ll have to wait and see if Embiid will continue to complain about his role with Butler on the floor if the team keeps winning.

Jorge Alonso BroBible avatar
Brobible sports editor. Jorge is a Miami native and lifelong Heat fan. He has been covering the NBA, MLB and NFL professionally for almost 10 years, specializing in digital media.