Joel Embiid‘s absence from the Philadelphia 76ers‘ first two games was a tough blow. Both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors served them defeat on a golden platter. Fans are upset with the Sixers, to say the least. To top it off, the team’s vague label of Embiid’s “left knee management” raises concerns. Meanwhile, Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley isn’t holding back. He offered sharp criticisms of Embiid. But amidst the chaos, support is emerging in the form of Draymond Green.

As a former MVP, it’s frustrating to see Joel Embiid in such murky waters. Moreover, the NBA has launched an investigation into the Sixers. They are looking at The Process and the puzzling benching of new All-Star Paul George. Overall, the scenario doesn’t stand in Philadelphia’s favor. Well, the 30-year-old center noted that he could never play back-to-backs in his career, a remark that drew significant criticism. However, if we consider his statement from another angle, it’s possible that ‘The Process’ ongoing knee issues are at the heart of such a claim.

But well, criticisms come in bulk and often defense turns weak, but not in this case. Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has stood up for Embiid on The Draymond Green Show. He said: “I think what Chuck has to understand is Joel has a very bad knee.” Last season, the 7ft giant suffered a left lateral meniscus injury that kept him away for a large part of the season. Therefore, many are seeing the 2024/25 season’s opening game absence as a trick to avoid playing back-to-backs.

However, DrayMagic has a message for Joel. He doesn’t want the former MVP to wrap his head around the things happening. Instead: “You should play as many games as you can and I think you should average as many points as you can. And I think you should chase as many individual awards as you can chase,” commented Green. Moreover, the Dubs icon pointed out that talents like Joel Embiid shy away from achieving their targets because of how widely spoken a banner is.

Now, coming back to Charles Barkley‘s jab at Joel Embiid. What truly happened needs a quick run-through. We know, the ex-Philadelphia 76ers’ forward doesn’t usually keep his opinions subtle. However, this time, it might be a bit more personal matter given the fact that Embiid plays for the team where Barkley debuted and took a legendary status in the league.

Charles Barkley slams Joel Embiid and the 76ers for alleged back-to-back rest plan

Charles Barkley disagrees with Joel Embiid’s planned lighter schedule this year. As always, he was outspoken about his feelings. Weeks before the start of the season, Embiid said (per Tim Bontemps, ESPN), “If I had to guess, I would probably never play back-to-backs the rest of my career.” This was probably enough to trigger Chuck’s frustration. On NBA Tip-Off, before TNT broadcast the Spurs vs. Mavericks game, Barkley criticized Embiid’s plan.

“He just signed for 3 years, $193 million — 3 years, $193 million — to play basketball,” Barkley remarked. “We’re not steel workers, we’re not nurses. Like, people who got like real jobs, who have to work like 40-50 hours a week. We’re playing basketball, at the most, four days a week. Most of the time three days a week.“

Joel Embiid’s “plan” received backing from team president Daryl Morey, who stated that Paul George wouldn’t play consecutive games either. “We’re going to be smart about it,” Morey said, as reported by Tim Bontemps. “Part of being smart about it is having both Paul and Joel probably not play many back-to-backs, if any.” While Embiid has been one of the league’s best players, his ongoing struggles to stay healthy are concerning. His absence last season due to a knee injury highlighted the urgency for him to return, but the first two games painted a different picture.

Joel Embiid’s absence has raised eyebrows and sparked heated discussions. Charles Barkley’s sharp criticism highlights the frustrations around Embiid’s lighter schedule. While some support him, the NBA community remains divided. As the season unfolds, the spotlight will be on Embiid to see how he navigates these challenges.