Joel Embiid is producing some MVP-caliber numbers this season, however NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal says these numbers imply jack if Embiid doesn’t lead the 76ers to a championship.
Embiid and Philly have did not make it previous the second spherical of the postseason on 5 events because the 2017-18 season.
Plus, Embiid’s effort of the offensive finish diminished considerably throughout final season’s playoffs and Shaq is asking 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 stated 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, whereas Shaq was busy difficult Embiid, Clippers star Paul George was evaluating him to the nice man.
“How do you stop him, bro?” George stated 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 really shared the quote on his Instagram story, however clearly expects extra from the large man this season.
29-year-old Embiid stays out of Philly’s lineup with knee soreness.
When Sixers coach Nick Nurse was requested if Embiid will play Friday in opposition to the Kings, he answered with, “I’m hoping so. We’re still kind of going day to day.”
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