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Shaquille O’Neal says Joel Embiid’s comments about the 2000s prove the 76ers star wouldn’t have made it in his era

Originally posted on HITC | By Godwin Mathew | Last updated Jun 21, 2025 8:50 AM ET

Joel Embiid has proven himself as one of the NBA’s top modern stars, which naturally raises the question of how he would’ve fared in previous eras.

Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant players of the 1990s and 2000s, didn’t hold back with his opinion.

Over the years, the NBA has seen plenty of elite big men. Most fans today would highlight Nikola Jokic — a three-time MVP and Finals MVP in 2023. Right behind him is Embiid, another regular-season MVP and one of the most skilled centers of his generation.

With Jokic and Embiid leading today’s class of big men, comparisons with past greats are inevitable. That’s exactly what came up in a recent conversation between Shaq and former NBA player Zach Randolph.

Shaq isn’t sold on Embiid’s fit in the 2000s

While O’Neal acknowledges Embiid’s accomplishments, he doesn’t believe the 76ers star would’ve thrived in his era. On a recent podcast, Shaq and Randolph discussed which current players could have competed in the more physical 2000s. Randolph brought up Ivica Zubac, Julius Randle and Embiid.

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Shaq wasn’t convinced. He argued that the 2023 MVP doesn’t compare to players like himself or Tim Duncan. While that may sound harsh considering Embiid’s track record despite injuries, Shaq explained that a past conversation with Embiid shaped his opinion.

O’Neal previously said Embiid wouldn’t win a championship and hasn’t changed that stance.

Shaq recalls his chat with Embiid

“Is he tough? Because I asked him once, and his answer was, ‘Guys don’t play like that anymore.’ I was like, what? What do you mean? Bro, go inside and punish people. I was done talking after that,” Shaq said on The Big Podcast.

Randolph stood by his belief that Embiid would have succeeded, crediting his size, strength, and skill as attributes that would translate well to the early 2000s game.

Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Modern centers like Embiid could still dominate in the past

As the game of basketball continues to evolve, players are becoming more skilled and versatile. If Embiid had played in earlier decades, his style likely would’ve revolved around dominating the paint and mid-range, rather than shooting from deep. In that version, he could’ve resembled Shaq or Hakeem Olajuwon.

Embiid has worked hard to tailor his game to the modern NBA, and it’s paid off with All-NBA selections, All-Star appearances, and an MVP title. While he doesn’t need to prove anything to the legends of the past, his dip in recent form hasn’t erased the fact that he remains an elite talent.

Even if he might not have physically overpowered someone like O’Neal, Embiid — like many modern big men — has the tools to succeed in any era.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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