Joel Embiid is producing some MVP-caliber numbers this season, but NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal says those numbers mean jack if Embiid doesn’t lead the 76ers to a championship.
Embiid and Philly have failed to make it past the second round of the postseason on five occasions since the 2017-18 season.
Plus, Embiid’s effort of the offensive end diminished significantly during last season’s playoffs and Shaq is calling him out.
“I’mma give it to him like Kareem gave it to me, and he should take it as disrespectful because that’s how I took it,” O’Neal said on The Big Podcast with Shaq. “I was averaging big numbers with LA, but we kept getting swept like, ‘Okay Shaq, you doing that on the regular season, what about in the playoffs?’”
“They asked Kareem, ‘What do you think about Shaq?’ Kareem said, ‘Well, he hasn’t won any championships yet.’ So that’s my message to Mr. Embiid. Like we know what you can do but can you do it at the big dance? Can you get the phone number at the big dance? And can you take it home and close the deal?”
Ironically, while Shaq was busy challenging Embiid, Clippers star Paul George was comparing him to the great man.
“How do you stop him, bro?” George said of Embiid on Podcast P with Paul George. “You can’t…Like you cannot stop him. He should average 41 this year like you can’t stop him. He’s too big, he’s agile, he can shoot, he can step out from the three-point line. You know he’s just a big body like he’s our generation and our version of Shaq.”
Shaq actually shared the quote on his Instagram story, but clearly expects more from the big man this season.
29-year-old Embiid remains out of Philly’s lineup with knee soreness.
When Sixers coach Nick Nurse was asked if Embiid will play Friday against the Kings, he answered with, “I’m hoping so. We’re still kind of going day to day.”
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