Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid isn't buying the speculation that his team's heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday could cost Brett Brown his job.
Reports surfaced Saturday stating the head coach needed a Finals berth to maintain his position, but Embiid labeled the idea that Brown could be dismissed as "bullshit."
"He's done a fantastic job," Embiid told reporters on Monday, according to ESPN. "He's been there through everything.
"This year, I think he grew even more as a coach. He learned, we all learned."
Brown was hired in 2013 and guided the club through "The Process" to its first playoff appearance in six years in 2017-18. The 58-year-old was rewarded with a contract extension through the 2021-22 campaign.
But the pressure on Brown increased with the club's win-now moves for pending free agents Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. Owner Josh Harris added to those expectations in March when he claimed his team could beat anyone in the East and that an early postseason exit would be "problematic."
Embiid doesn't believe Brown should be blamed for the Sixers' shortcomings.
"At the end of the day, it comes down to the players," Embiid said. "I don't think he should have anything to worry about. He's an amazing coach, a better person. ... If there was someone to blame, I mean, put it all on me."
Brown holds a 178-314 regular-season record and a 12-10 postseason mark as Sixers head coach.
