image via NewsBreak
On a recent appearance on Podcast P, rapper, podcaster, and Philadelphia Eagles superfan Gillie pulled no punches with host Paul George.
Expressing his frustration with George and Joel Embiid spending more time as spectators rather than participants in the Sixers game, Gillie had this to say in addressing George:
I hate to be harsh, but I gotta speak with the real on how we’re feeling. Bro, you played in damn near as many games as you didn’t.
Gillie’s assessment is accurate as George appeared in just 41 games this past season and looked every bit of his 35 years, averaging just 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.
We don’t even know if our best player [Joel Embiid] is going to be available. It ain’t no doubt to me that Joel Embiid is the best f**king player on the planet. I say that all the time. The only difference is we don’t know what the f**k we are going to get every night. He might come out one night [and be like] ‘I’m gon give you muthaf—kers 50 and 20 and we might come out the next night and just settle for 17-footers.
Embiid was even more of an onlooker than Paul George, appearing in just 19 games, in another injury-riddled season, due to lingering issues in his left knee that ultimately led the 76ers to shut Embiid down in late February for the remainder of the year. He averaged 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in those 19 appearances, a steep drop in production from the 34.7 points and 11.0 rebounds Embiid averaged just a season ago. The 2024-25 season also saw Embiid produce the lowest efficiency numbers from the field (.444) and downtown (.299) since his rookie campaign.
Gillie also pointed out that effort is not only what separates Joel Embiid from players such as Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo but also will bar him from earning the true respect of the Philadelphia sports fan.
The one thing about Giannis is you know you are going to get maximum f—king effort every f—king night. Philadelphia, we like to see the effort. Allen Iverson, he didn’t win sh-t, he will always be the GOAT around this m*therf—ker.
Because he put in 100% effort. He left everything on the floor. It’s not because he won, Brian Dawkins [former Philadelphia Eagles safety] never won sh*t around here, he will always be a GOAT because when our eyes look at Brian Dawkins they said he gives maximum fuck—ng effort. Every single time, every single snap. Jason Kelce, same thing. When we watch them, we watch them give maximum effort and put their fu—ing life on the line and we f***ing respect that.
Barring a massive overhaul of the roster ( or the discovery of the Fountain of Youth) the Sixers’ prospects for improving their lot in 2025-26. Paul George will be a year older at 36 and even if he returns to a high level of play, Joel Embiid’s availability will be a question mark. He has appeared in just 58 games over the past two seasons and has never played in more than 68 games at any point in his career.
