Joel Embiid once made 76ers owner Josh Harris, who led $6,050,000,000 Commanders' purchase, reverse his decision on pay cuts during pandemic

Joel Embiid convinced the Sixers owner with his pay cut decision
Joel Embiid convinced the Sixers owner with his pay cut decision

Joel Embiid was a shining light for employees of the Philadelphia 76ers during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Sixers owner Josh Harris announced that a pay cut was proposed for all Sixers employees to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, the All-Star center pledged to help Sixers those who were set to suffer financially because of salary reductions.

Harris, who recently led a group in purchasing the NFL's Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion, was about to go in a direction that was not dissimilar to the one that other owners intended to do at the time. Luckily for Sixers' employees, Embiid stepped up and decided to donate $500,000 to help those in need financially.

Following this move, Harris' company, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, decided to reverse their decision and did not push through with cutting their employees' pay.

"Our commitment has been to do our best to keep all of our employees working through this very difficult situation. As part of an effort to do that we asked salaried employees to take a temporary 20% pay cut while preserving everyone’s full benefits -- and keeping our 1,500 hourly workers paid throughout the regular season."
"After listening to our staff and players, it’s clear that was the wrong decision. We have reversed it and will be paying these employees their full salaries. This is an extraordinary time in our world - unlike any most of us have ever lived through before - and ordinary business decisions are not enough to meet the moment. To our staff and fans, I apologize for getting this wrong."

You might also be interested in reading this: Richard Jefferson accuses Joel Embiid of ducking Nikola Jokic despite dominating their last matchup: "They call it the Serbian flu"


Joel Embiid is still "happy" to be a Sixer

Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Six
Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Six

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne had a chance to talk to Joel Embiid amidst the drama surrounding his All-Star teammate, James Harden, and the Sixers' front office. Fans were recently surprised to see Embiid's social media update on X, where he removed the location of Philly from his profile.

Shelburne got a chance to ask him about his future with the team.

"He is happy to be a Sixer. I don’t think this is a precursor to something. I think this is Joel Troel," Shelburne said.

Both Harden and President Daryl Morey are in a standoff and Embiid is seemingly caught in the middle.

Also read: Is Joel Embiid leaving Philadelphia 76ers? Latest bio change leaves fans concerned

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