“If I had to guess, I would probably never play back-to-backs,” Embiid said to ESPN earlier this season, a statement that stirred up some serious backlash. NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, known for their strong opinions on player commitment, quickly jumped on Embiid’s approach, arguing it could hold the Sixers back. Following a tough home loss, Barkley isn’t just pointing at Embiid – he’s turning the heat up on Sixers’ front office guru, Daryl Morey, holding him accountable for the team’s struggles.

Despite the anticipation surrounding Embiid’s return, his presence wasn’t enough to turn things around for the 2-7 Sixers. Hopes were high, but the Sixers fell short, losing 99-111, bringing their record to 2-8. For the fans who’d been counting on a stronger showing, the disappointment was palpable, as Embiid couldn’t quite meet the lofty expectations set for him. The loss only fueled the ongoing discussion: is the Sixers’ dismal season just on Embiid, or does it go deeper?

According to Charles Barkley, the real issue might be management’s lack of direction. On Inside the NBA, he didn’t hold back, putting the blame squarely on Morey. “If he is hurt, there needs to be a plan, but we’ve gone through the process,” Kenny Smith said, referring to Philly’s long-term development strategy.

And Chuck jumped in saying, “I blame the Sixers for this.” Barkley wasn’t done. “I’ve never heard a player, a great player, say before the season starts, ‘I’m not going to play back-to-back,’” he said. Morey, as the Sixers’ president of basketball operations, faces mounting pressure, with Chuck calling him out for what he sees as a lack of foresight. 

Meanwhile, Embiid, in his return, managed only 13 points in 26 minutes, shooting a disappointing 2-for-11 from the field. The 2023 MVP added just 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and a block, but even those numbers couldn’t mask his exhaustion. Visibly tired, he even requested to be subbed out during the first quarter, leaving fans concerned about his fitness.

However, during Charles Barkley’s assessment, Shaq, who was never the one to stay quiet, also jumped in, fueling the criticism.

After Chuck, Shaquille O’Neal took a jab at Embiid

As Joel Embiid made his much-anticipated return, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal didn’t hold back on his criticisms. During TNT’s halftime show, Shaq fired shots at Embiid’s attitude, saying, “This is the fear I had for Joel Embiid. You announce arrogantly, ‘I’m not playing back-to-backs, Ernie… I’ll come in when I want.’ Now, when you say things like that, you’re supposed to come back with extra energy. 0 for 3?”

More than the numbers, the lack of fire really set Shaq off. Having spent 19 seasons battling through injuries, O’Neal understands the wear and tear that comes with the game. But what he couldn’t accept was seeing Embiid attempt just three shots in the first half. “I say this respectfully, Joel Embiid will never win a championship until he gets his mind and his attitude right,” Shaq said.

Even though Embiid’s presence helped stabilize Philly’s interior defense, it wasn’t the dominant comeback fans hoped for. The big man let Karl-Anthony Towns notch 21 points, looking a bit sluggish on his defensive rotations.

After missing nine games—six for knee issues and three for a scuffle with a reporter—Embiid is back. Though fans may not see him on back-to-back nights, as he said, he would like to avoid that.