Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star center, is preparing to return to regular season action. He will face the Boston Celtics in his first game in eight months. However, his recent injury struggles have raised skepticism from NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Embiid’s Injury History
Last season, Embiid played only 19 games due to a knee injury. This condition led the 76ers to classify him as “medically unable to play.” During the games he managed to participate in, his performance noticeably declined. He averaged 23.8 points per game with a 44.4 percent shooting accuracy.
O’Neal’s Criticism of Embiid
Shaquille O’Neal has expressed doubt about Embiid’s current status among NBA centers. He stated that Embiid has fallen behind Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, who, according to O’Neal, has surpassed him significantly as the league’s top big man.
“The Big Podcast With Shaq” Remarks
- O’Neal mentioned on his podcast: “He’s just been unconsidered for the NBA’s top big man.”
- He emphasized that Embiid is no longer in the discussion for the best center.
- O’Neal remarked, “Jokić has him by far now; it’s disappointing.”
O’Neal also expressed hope that Embiid would take these comments personally and come back stronger. He aims to motivate players when he vocalizes criticism, believing it can ignite their performance.
Future Prospects for Embiid
Despite last season’s challenges, Embiid has previously shown exceptional talent. He has the opportunity to reclaim his position among the NBA’s elite centers if he can stay healthy. Observers are eager to see if O’Neal’s comments will serve as motivation during the upcoming season.
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