For Team USA the stars assembled are good enough to trounce every national team on their way to a gold medal. However, some are playing less due to the presence of some of the greatest players in the NBA. That said, Joel Embiid has started games and was expected to play a major role at the Paris Olympics 2024. But Charles Barkley feels it hasn’t worked out.
The Hall of Famer was a guest on Podcast P with Paul George. As they were discussing the new Philadelphia 76ers roster, Barkley said this about Embiid:
I hope this is a wakeup call for Joel – this Olympic experience. He has not played well, and I’m hoping he’s like, ‘Yo man, I got to get in better shape’. I think that’s one of the reasons he’s always injured. I don’t think he’s in good enough shape. But I think the way he’s played, which was not well during the Olympics, should be a wake-up call for him. You got to be a little bit embarrassed by the way you played.
Charles Barkley on Podcast P
Charles Barkley feels the Philadelphia 76ers big man has not played to his usual MVP standards at the Olympics. More importantly, his inability to contribute to a team environment is showing through.
That will be crucial when Embiid teams up with Tyrese Maxey and Paul George next season. All this while, he was the alpha dog of the team. But heading into next season, he will have to defer to his All-Star teammates if they want to win an NBA title.
Charles Barkley says Joel Embiid is out of shape and should be embarrassed by his Olympic performance
“I think that’s one of the reasons he’s always injured. I don’t think he’s in good enough shape…You got to be a little bit embarrassed by the way you played.”
(Via… pic.twitter.com/FPqfeWIpzr
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 5, 2024
But Barkley feels Joel Embiid can learn a lot from the Paris Olympics 2024 experience. In fact, he can imbibe whatever he learnt and implement that with the Philadelphia 76ers. Most importantly, get in shape to avoid injury.
Joel Embiid key for Philadelphia 76ers NBA title shot
The Philadelphia 76ers had an open book once the previous NBA season ended. They took that opportunity and went all in and brought in a lot of impactful players. But if Joel Embiid keeps hogging the ball and slows the team down, all those pieces will not be able to perform to their best. Therefore, he is the one who will have to adjust to his new teammates.
Prime importance will be his health. Others alongside Barkley want him to lose weight. That will help him to reduce the wear and tear on his knee. The 76ers ended their previous two seasons in playoff disappointment, all because of his knees. If he can get his conditioning right, it will help him to move better. Better mobility will be a must to fit around his faster teammates.
The Philadelphia 76ers will also monitor how he progresses heading into next season. If Joel Embiid does not do what they need to win an NBA title, then they could ship him off. After all, the franchise does not want to take a chance on a player who has already struggled with injuries.
In case you missed:
