The Philadelphia 76ers have been swept once and knocked out twice in the postseason series since Jimmy Butler joined the Miami Heat three years ago.

The Heat have made it to their second Eastern Conference finals appearance in three years after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers. On the other hand, the 2020 NBA Finals saw them make it to the finals.

Butler left the Sixers for greater and better things, yet the team has stayed stagnant, even after many roster changes.

Joel Embiid confused why Sixers let Jimmy Butler go

To make matters worse, Butler’s heroics in the game must have felt like icing on the cake for the Sixers. Because of his outstanding performance, Joel Embiid expressed his regret at not having Butler as a teammate after the Heat won the series-clinching game on Thursday evening.

“I’m happy for him. I won’t sit here and say I didn’t wish he was my teammate. I still don’t know how we let him go. But I wish I could have gone to battle with him still. But it is what it is. Just got to keep building and keep trying to reach that goal.

Obviously, that’s my guy, that’s my brother. I mean, it’s tough. But I’m so proud of him. He’s playing at an unreal level right now. He’s something else right now. And I’m proud of him for being at this level and carrying them and what he’s been able to do.”

Embiid said of Butler after the game