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Shaquille O’Neal recently shared his take on Joel Embiid not being fit to play in his era of the NBA
The four-time NBA champion is regarded by many as one of the most dominant players in the league.
His ability in the paint instilled fear in opponents, which is what helped Shaquille O’Neal achieve all the laurels in his career.
After a glorious NBA career, the Hall of Famer has been working with ‘Inside the NBA’ and doing things around the league, which leads to meeting current players quite a lot.
He often comments his thoughts about the game and they are not always taken well by the players.
O’Neal revealed he once went at Philadelphia 76ers‘ center Joel Embiid, but his response convinced him that the player could not survive in his era.
O’Neal on his interaction with Joel Embiid
Shaq and Zach Randolph were discussing which players in the current generation would survive in their era, where the game was extremely physical.
When Randolph suggested Embiid’s name, O’Neal refused to give him the recognition of being able to play in their era by telling why.
“I came at him one day and his response was, ‘ Guys don’t play like that no more,’ I’m like, ‘Mo***** what you talking about’ like bro go inside, punish, ‘Oh guys don’t play like that no more,’ I’m like done even talking to you,” said O’Neal on ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq.’
O’Neal is one of the best centers and his thoughts will spark some concern in Philly fans.
While Embiid is right and the game has changed, if you are a big man, who can impose your will, there is no need for the team to run any complicated offensive schemes.
What makes it better for Embiid is that he is skilled and can adapt the game to his skillset.
Joel Embiid has to take a big step if ‘The Process’ has to be completed
The 76ers started ‘The Process’ in a bid to compete for a championship around 2013.
Embiid was drafted as a part of that in 2014 and was expected to change things around in Philly.
Although it took some time to make the team competitive, around 2017, the team was properly constructed and ready to compete in the East.
The Philadelphia 76ers plan to give Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey another chance next season to compete for a championship, per @TheSteinLine
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 19, 2025
“By simply staying at No. 3, Philadelphia would introduce an $11.1 million salary onto its books for 2025-26. So the Sixers… pic.twitter.com/Pv50EyE5qd
However, they always fell short, be it either a close defeat in the playoffs or injury problems.
The team has not had a good strike of luck and this also includes Embiid, who has suffered a lot of injuries throughout his NBA career.
In the 2023 season, Embiid won the MVP award and it looked like the 76ers had everything needed to win.
They once again fell short after a horrific Game 7 performance to the Boston Celtics in the second round.
Embiid has never managed to get past the second round in his time with the 76ers and this is something that was expected to change last season with the arrival of Paul George.
The center once again had an injury-prone season and things just did not work well for the 76ers.
Embiid needs a big 2025-26 campaign
He has also been linked with a move away from the 76ers with LA Lakers also involved.
Embiid is certainly dominant, but there are huge question marks on his ability to maintain fitness for an entire season.
Having undergone surgery on his knee, Embiid has had time to recover with an extended offseason, which will be a great boost for him.
The 76ers are not expected to do worse than last season, but Embiid has to ensure he is at his very best.
Although players like Paul George and Tyrese Maxey are there, it is Embiid that is the star and his dominance is what will get over the line if the 76ers are to be competitive.
More must-reads:
- Celtics' moves suggest new guard will be traded — eventually
- Kevin Love reportedly has preferred buyout destination
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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Over the past couple of years, the WNBA has seen a major uptick in ratings and overall fan engagement. Unfortunately, that has also come with negative attention. It may have reached a new low, as there have now been three separate incidents in which a fan has thrown a sex toy on the court. This time, it nearly hit Indiana Fever veteran Sophie Cunningham during a matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. Cunningham had already joked about it on social media, and given her outspoken nature and reputation as a bit of an instigator, she didn't shy away from it: She also laughed it up on her Instagram story: Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, however, didn't think it was a laughing matter. Following the game, she put the fans on blast for their "stupid" behavior. "It's ridiculous. It's dumb. It's stupid," Roberts said, per Yahoo Sports. "It's also dangerous, and you know, player safety is No. 1, respecting the game, all those things. I think it's really stupid." There's no place for any of this in sports, much less in women's sports. The league needs to crack down on this and take the necessary measures to prevent it from happening ever again. The WNBA is finally thriving after years of surviving, and while the fans will eventually grow to respect the product, not all publicity is good publicity.
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ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick gave Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones a reality check on Wednesday. During the most recent edition of "Get Up," Riddick blasted the longtime Cowboys owner's handling of edge-rusher Micah Parsons' contract negotiations. It's the second time in as many weeks that Jones has received an unkind reality check over the Parsons situation. While the two-time first-team All-Pro has been extension-eligible since the end of the 2023 regular season, the Cowboys have strung along talks, pushing Parsons to request a trade on Aug. 1. Riddick blasted the approach, suggesting it's time Jones stops living in the past. "He may say, 'I did this kind of thing with Emmitt [Smith], we still won Super Bowls,'" Riddick said. In 1993, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back missed the first two games of the regular season due to a contract dispute. He eventually signed a four-year, $13.6 million contract on the Thursday before Week 3 and after the Cowboys had started 0-2. Smith led the league in rushing that season, and the Cowboys would go on to win their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy. Riddick made it clear to emphasize that the situation is far different from the one with Parsons. "You had Troy [Aikman], you had Michael [Irvin] ... You had an all-time team. They don't have an all-time team right now," Riddick said. "He's the one that says all the time, 'I'm all in... My clock is ticking. I need to win another championship.' This isn't the blueprint for it," the former NFL defensive back added. "You don't have that team anymore, but you're conducting business like it's back in 1993 again, and it's not," he finished. The Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since 1995. Over the past 29 seasons, Dallas has more losing seasons (nine) than postseason wins (five). The Cowboys are often more relevant for their off-field drama than on-field accomplishments, and that's no different this season. It's a song and dance Jones has perfected, and it's one preventing Dallas from maximizing its future.
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