Throughout his legendary NBA career, Charles Barkley was faced with battling relentless criticism about his weight. Notably, he was viewed to be overweight during his time in Philly. He then needed a humbling from his mentor, Moses Malone, to get into shape. Now, he wants to be the same for Joel Embiid when the Sixers are on the cusp of breaking their title drought.

During an appearance on Podcast P with the newest Sixers’ acquire, Paul George, Barkley blamed the Cameroonian center himself for his rotten injury history. The Hall of Famer also expressed serious concerns over his unappealing performance at the ongoing Paris Olympics. “Now, I hope this is a wake-up 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. Because me, personally, I think that’s one of the reasons he’s always injured. I don’t think he’s in good enough shape.

According to Barkley, even with a colossal ‘Big 3’, the Sixers are no championship-caliber team until Joel Embiid ‘gets in shape’. “But I think the way he’s played, which is not well during the Olympics, should be a wake-up call for him, like, you know what? I got to get in better shape. I got to get healthy. Because if we don’t win the championship, or go deep in the playoffs, it’s going to be because of me,” Barkley said on Podcast P.

Ultimately, the talisman for the Sixers remains to be Joel Embiid. Yes, Maxey had a coming-of-the-age season winning MIP honors and George is a bona fide competitor. Still, none of them have the factor of sheer dominance the way Joel Embiid does. That’s the reason the basketball fraternity is perplexed watching him at the Olympics.

The 2023 KIA MVP is only averaging 9.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in two games at the competition. It’s uncharacteristic for Embiid, who was on the cusp of making scoring history in the past NBA season. Furthermore, he has looked dull with the ball, averaging 2.5 turnovers, the second most for Team USA.

Furthermore, his clash with ailments has become a common theme since his college days in Kansas. In his nine years in the NBA, not once has Joel Embiid played over 70 games. What’s worse is his injuries carry forward into the postseason, generally leaving him hobbled during the most vital time of the season. That will have to change if the Sixers are contemplating competing for a title in the coming season.

For the 76ers to remain competitive, they will need exactly what Embiid could produce last season. That was the time the Sixers, even without George, seemed to be a destructive force.

The Sixers were contenders when Joel Embiid was on the floor

Embiid was only healthy for 39 games last season. It’s the second-lowest game he has played during a year. However, in his brief time on the floor, no one could escape his wrath. And the Sixers were the ruling body under his near history-breaking run. In the games Embiid played, Philly had a 31-8 record.

Their win percentage was better than the Boston Celtics’ during the regular season. It’s also vital to consider this happened before Tyrese Maxey catapulted into an All-Star.

Even with his vast improvements, not having Embiid broke Philadelphia. They went on a 16-27 woeful run in his combined absences. The offensive fell short in almost every major category. The glaring reality meant just one thing, Joel Embiid is paramount to the 76ers ever winning a title.

This season, not only does he have the duty of staying out on the floor, but the expectations will be amplified more than ever. He not only has Maxey, who averaged close to 26 points last season but also a veteran warrior Paul George who can be an instrumental component.

If all of them remain fully fit for the entire season, not only will the NBA world witness Joel Embiid sustain an entire regular season for the first time, but also what the Sixers’ potential is with their new ‘Big 3’. They have a well-rounded scorer, a modern-day point guard, and a tall wing who can defend and attack at an expert level. If they find their synergy, they could be the reigning dynasty for the coming season. Times are encouraging for the Philadelphia 76ers, but it is contingent on their seven-foot MVP’s status.

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger in the video below.