NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal made pointed comments about Joel Embiid’s championship prospects, suggesting that the Philadelphia 76ers star will not win an NBA title unless he adjusts his mentality and approach to the game.
O’Neal’s remarks came during a segment on Inside the NBA, where he addressed Embiid’s recent statements about sitting out back-to-back games. “In New York, it’s a tough team to play,” O’Neal explained, via Awful Announcing. “But this was the fear I had for Joel Embiid. You announce arrogantly, ‘I’m not playing back-to-backs, Ernie. I’m not injured, but I’m sore. I’ll come back when I want to come back.’”
O’Neal continued, emphasizing that with such statements, Embiid should be showing extra energy and commitment on the court. “When you say things like that, you’re supposed to come back with extra energy,” said O’Neal. “0-3, I would have been 0-15. But you know what y’all would have said: ‘Hey, Shaq’s not playing well, but he’s playing aggressive.’”
O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion, underscored that Embiid’s lack of intensity was affecting Philadelphia’s overall game plan, stating, “The plan that they are having, it’s not working. And not only that, I say this respectfully: Joel Embiid will never win a championship until he gets his mind and his attitude right.”
The Sixers have had a challenging start to the season, currently standing at 2-8, with Embiid’s absence in nine of those games adding to the team’s struggles.
The 30-year-old center made his season debut against the New York Knicks but was not able to secure a win.
Embiid’s decision to sit out back-to-backs has been a point of contention, as some fans and analysts view it as a lack of commitment to helping the Sixers break their championship drought.
Embiid, known for his skillful scoring and defensive presence, is one of the league’s most prominent stars, but his limited availability in recent years has been a consistent hurdle for Philadelphia.
While load management is common in today’s NBA, O’Neal’s comments highlight an ongoing debate about how elite players balance health and competitive drive.
