Shaquille O’Neal and other experts have criticized the Philadelphia 76ers for their sluggish start to the 2024–25 NBA season, citing their players’ poor health as a major factor. Before the season started, All-Star big man Joel Embiid dealt with left knee management, which kept him out for the first six games.
His co-star, Paul George, also missed the beginning of the new campaign. George missed the first five games of the season due to a hyperextended left knee he sustained during one of their preseason games. The only star available to welcome the season was Tyrese Maxey.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, Maxey had to be sidelined after the first seven games because of a right hamstring injury. Maxey missed six straight games because of his injury.
On Thursday, the Sixers prepared to play against the Golden State Warriors with a healthy Big 3. Over the past 14 games, the team had a 10-4 record. Even with the recent trend in wins, Shaq doesn’t believe in Philly being a top team in the Eastern Conference. The former NBA star revealed his feelings about the Embiid-led team on the latest episode of “Inside the NBA.”
“They’re still not ready,” Shaq said.
His co-host and former Sixers star Charles Barkley argued that all the team needs is to be healthy and they’d be a top team. However, O’Neal was firm in what he said about the team.
“Not even close.”
"They're still not ready […] Not even close" 👀
Shaq & the crew discuss the 76ers being 10-4 in their last 14 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/fwh6soIXK7
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 3, 2025
The Sixers are slowly getting their groove back, gradually winning against good teams, even beating the defending champions Boston Celtics on Christmas.
Shaquille O’Neal criticized Embiid for not playing back-to-backs
The Sixers declared before the season that they had no intention of allowing Joel Embiid to play consecutive games. This was to protect their star from potential injuries, allowing him to be available for the postseason. However, the comments by the team concerning their star weren’t received well. Shaquille O’Neal was one of the people who expressed their disappointment in Embiid, including Barkley.
“I was so disappointed in Joel Embiid saying he wasn’t going to play back-to-back games,” Barkley said. “You’re one of the three, four or five best players in the world. You cannot say as a leader of that team, ‘I’m not going to play certain games.’ That’s not the way to start the season.”
"It doesn't make sense, the league isn't that physical for him to say that" 👀
Shaq & Chuck sound off on Embiid's comments that he may not play in back-to-backs pic.twitter.com/IVcAH9lJxi
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 22, 2024
“Not only that, it doesn’t make sense,” O’Neal said. “The league isn’t that physical for him to say that. He’s a pick-and-popper, he’s not a big guy. … You don’t get doubled, you don’t get tripled, you don’t get flagrant fouled. There’s no reason to say ‘I’m not playing back-to-back.'”
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
