Joel Embiid was finally on the court for the 76ers in the 2024-25 season.
But Shaquille O’Neal was far from impressed — and thinks the Philadelphia star has a lingering problem that will not have a ring at the end of his career, unless he makes some changes.
Embiid sat out the team’s first nine games, six over left knee management — which led to the 76ers getting fined $100,000 over “inconsistent” statements regarding his health — and three more due to a suspension for getting into a physical altercation with a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist.
Finally back on the court on Tuesday in a 111-99 loss to the Knicks, Embiid largely struggled with 13 points on just 2 of 11 from the field with two turnovers.
After Embiid got off to slow start during the first half, O’Neal ripped the 76ers’ big manon the TNT halftime show.
“This was the fear I had for Joel Embiid,” he said. “You announce arrogantly, I’m not playing back-to-backs. I’m not injured but I’m sore. I’ll come back when I want to come back.
“Now, when you say things like that, you’re supposed to come back with extra energy. 0-for-3, I would have been 0-for-15. But you know what y’all would have said. ‘Hey, Shaq’s not playing well, but he’s playing aggressive.’ 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.”
Embiid admitted after the game that he was indeed “rusty” in the early going.
“I mean, the first five minutes,” were rusty, Embiid told reporters. “I thought after that, it was fine. You can do whatever you want in practice and [a] scrimmage. But the game is a different story. I’ll be fine.”
The struggling 76ers are now 2-8 and face the Cavaliers on Wednesday, and if Embiid is not playing in back-to-back games, he would be sitting out this one.
