Frustrated 76ers star sends message about 'lost season'

Embiid maintained he is still in his prime and the team should be a contender for a title every season.

"What am I, 29?" he said, adding, "I think we should go out every single year to try to win the championship... there should never be any lost season."

Embiid’s comments reveal a continued exasperation with the team’s failure to acquire star talent such as Lillard, now with the Bucks, or Holiday, now with the Celtics.

Over the past several seasons, the 76ers have been one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference largely because of Embiid. In earning his first MVP last season, he averaged 33.1 points — winning his second consecutive scoring title — and 10.2 rebounds. 

The 76ers, however, were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the second round as Embiid posted the largest points-per-game drop from the regular season to playoffs (33.1 to 23.7) by any MVP in league history. 

Entering his 10th year in the league, Embiid and the 76ers find themselves in a precarious position. He has never made it past the second round of the playoffs, and the team's revolving door of players and coaches has made it difficult to establish continuity. 

With James Harden seemingly on the way out, coupled with rivals Milwaukee and Boston getting stronger with Lillard and Holiday, Philadelphia will have its work cut out for it this season.