Even after retirement from the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal has kept himself close to the game by co-hosting the TNT show with other seasoned players and reporters. As a game analyst, one has to call the game as one sees it, and occasionally resort to criticizing a player. Often there are instances where a player is too sensitive or has a right to take offense at someone criticizing him excessively. A beef brewed between Joel Embiid and Shaq when the reigning MVP felt Shaq stepped over a line.

However, Big Shamrock’s co-host Ernie Johnson came to his rescue and asserted that if a seasoned veteran like Shaq says something is wrong in a player’s gameplay, he is probably right. Ernie says that while he can resort to numbers and stats to critique a player as an analyst, his co-hosts like Shaq, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley, who have played the game at the highest level and won championships have a right to look beyond the numbers.

Shaq only wants Embiid to become better

The bottom line is if these NBA legends come out and say a player needs to improve in a certain area, it cannot be dismissed because they have played the game and know it inside out. For Shaq, Earnie attests that if “he gets on Joel Embiid, it’s because he wants Joel Embiid to be the best possible player he can be. So, I think um players have to realize that too.” The takeaway here is that Shaq had no malicious intentions behind his criticisms of Embiid, and players and fans alike need to understand that.

The Shaq-Embiid beef

It is no secret that Shaq is very critical of the current NBA players, so it was no surprise when he went after Philly’s big man Joel Embiid. Following the Celtics‘ victory over the Sixers during the Eastern Conference Semifinal last season, Shaq went all out on Embiid. After this performance, he said about Embiid, “Joel Embiid, he’s 6-11, he’s not posting up. He’s shooting jumpers, and then you’ve got the nerve to say, you got the nerve to say, ‘Me and James (Harden) can’t do it by ourselves?’ Get your big a** down in the paint.”

This wasn’t the first time Shaq criticized Embiid, and definitely wouldn’t be the last either. Embiid isn’t the only player who has been on the receiving end of Shaq’s criticism. To be fair, that’s just Shaq doing his job. He can be a little harsh sometimes, but if the intentions are good, one should probably take advice coming from an experienced player.

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Which is the worst beef in NBA history that you have witnessed? Let us know in the comments below!