In this episode of The Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green interviews Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid about the recent acquisition of James Harden, the evolving chemistry among the team's core players, and their aspirations for the postseason. Embiid praises Harden's resurgence, noting that Harden provides a playmaking dimension the team lacked and that his presence has opened up more scoring opportunities for Embiid. He reflects on his own confidence, comparing his skill set to Kevin Durant’s size and versatility, and emphasizes continual self‑improvement. The conversation shifts to the young guard Tyrese Maxey, whom Embiid describes as a "wild‑card" but a potential Most Improved Player. The duo discusses defensive matchups, joking about double‑team situations, Embiid’s defensive reputation, and hypothetical matchups against Stephen Curry. Throughout, the tone remains conversational and playful, with Embiid expressing optimism that the team will gel in the coming games and aim for a deep playoff run.
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Hi, it's Colin Cowherd. I started The Volume to bring you some of the most authentic voices in sports. While you're here, make sure you hit subscribe. Thanks.
And speaking of the Ben trade and with Brooklyn, y'all brought in James Harden. A James Harden who a lot of people has wrote off and said he's outta shape and he's declined and he's no longer the James Harden that we once knew. Only to see him reignite or come in with you guys and look just like the James Harden we all knew before. How is that? And I've seen that you said, "Man, I get more open shots than I've ever gotten." Like, how has that partnership been working out for y'all? And where do you see y'all as far as duos in the NBA? Where do y'all rank?
Well, that's not on me to figure it out, you know, where we ranked and all that stuff. Like, at this point, like, really, like, I'm really just focused on, you know, finding ways to, you know, get better every single day. And then obviously since we had him, we added him, like, he just provides, you know, something that we've really never had since I got to Philly. So that's a welcome sight. And he's been great. I think all of us, and especially him, He's still trying to figure it out, you know, how to help everybody. But, you know, it's James Harden. I told him, like, I don't care what anybody says, just be yourself. Like, freaking go score the ball, be a playmaker. He's been a lot— he's been, you know, trying to playmake a lot. But at times, like, I also want him to be aggressive and look for his own shot and all that stuff. But I mean—
Draymond Green.
From all the stories that you hear out there, it's completely different. I mean, fun guy to be around, positive energy always since he got here. You feel like, and like you say, it's all about timing. And some situations are different than others. I don't know what happened over there, Maybe it wasn't the best situation, and I would imagine that he put a lot of thoughts into, you know, really making that decision because you're leaving, you know, a team with freaking Kevin Durant.
Yeah.
Like, you know, Kevin Durant. Like, you play with him, you know how good he is. And, you know, I always say that, you know, like, I really believe in myself. As far as like, you know, talented and what I can do on the basketball floor, especially skills when it comes to, you know, my size and all that stuff. Like if there's one guy that I think, you know, for the size and, you know, what, you know, we able to do on the floor, that's the one guy that I'm like, yeah, he's more talented than me because the guy is 7 feet and he can do everything on the basketball court and even better than I can.
Draymond Green.
So, but, you know, James has been great. I think we got a chance to, you know, maybe meet you guys in, you know, in the finals, but we got a long way to go. We not where we supposed to. We still working on a lot of things that we gotta correct, whether it's defensively and then offensively, trying to find, you know, trying to make sure that we all succeed and all that stuff. But ultimately, I think, you know, we got a couple of games to really get on the same page and we'll be fine.
No doubt. I think it's been beautiful to watch as a, just for me as a fan of basketball, like to watch y'all two out there together and young Tyrese Maxey who has—
Tyrese has been amazing.
Mm-hmm. And I feel like his growth To me, he's kind of like a wild card for y'all. Like, you know, still really young. So it's hard to get a consistent 20-25 from a guy in his second year in the NBA. Like, that's a very hard thing to do. That's why he should be the most improved player this year. I respect that. I respect that. But I mean, we'll see, but I like how it's coming together for y'all. And then obviously I think, you know, Doc is one of the better coaches in our league. And so I'm interested to see, and hopefully we will meet y'all in the finals because as you know, like nobody else in this league, I'm locking that shit up. So—
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Whatever. That's why you need a double team every time we play y'all.
That's crazy. I never asked for a double team. That's not even in my makeup.
I always found myself to be double every single— every single time I play against you.
Hey, if you wanna duck in like Shaq, you get 2 feet in the paint, the double team gotta come, big fella. I mean, at that point, you gotta go for what you know. You know what I'm saying? But, nah, I mean—
Well, if you say that you're that good of a defender, I mean, I don't know. I've never asked for a double team in my life, so—
Me either.
That ain't me. And I think I'm a pretty good defender, especially when I'm on, so—
I mean, when we put you in every picture rock and roll and they bring you up to blitz because you can't get it, you know, you just like blitz it 'cause you can't get up the floor. That's kind of like asking for a double team and sit you on that guy. But double step what? Hey, you gonna double step?
Hold on, so you want me to play drop against Steph Curry?
No, you don't gotta be drop, but you ain't gotta blitz it.
I wasn't blitzing last time. I was just trying to make sure we got the ball out of the center.
Yeah, damn.
You can't make plays 'cause you can't shoot the basketball.
"Hey, but I make every other play." Right though.
"Leave me open down the stretch, I'mma can your ass." But would I rather make Stephen Curry or you beat us? I take you any single day.
Hey man, many has succumbed to that mindset, brother. Many has succumbed to that mindset.
