Embiid: 'I did a lot of chasing' to get Simmons to stay with 76ers

Joel Embiid tried convincing Ben Simmons to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers before the former No. 1 overall pick was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, he told ESPN's Malika Andrews.

"I did a lot of chasing around, trying to get him back and (trying) to make him feel comfortable again," Embiid said. "It was tough. I didn't care anymore."

Embiid and Simmons haven't been on the best terms. On the eve of the 76ers' regular-season opener, the All-Star center said he didn't care about Simmons. He also added that it wasn't his or the club's job to "babysit" the point guard.

Shortly after the Simmons blockbuster deal broke, Embiid appeared to troll his ex-teammate on social media.

Embiid says he last spoke with Simmons a week or two before the trade deadline and wishes him the best in Brooklyn.

"He's a great player," Embiid said. "And I think whatever he's going to add to Brooklyn is going to take them to another level, too."