Joel Embiid’s “MVP Performance” Brings Back Salty Memories for Charles Barkley

Joel Embiid’s stunning comeback has the Sixers legend in Studio J vibing. Other than a 50-point notch in his season’s stats, The Process turned the series into 2-1 with a 125-114 victory against the Knicks. Not only are the Inside Guys labeling it an “MVP performance,” they pointed out he’s in league with one of the greatest players in the franchise. Tonight Embiid’s game matches three such outstanding MVP performances in Philly’s history, logged in by Charles Barkley and Wilt Chamberlain.

Chuck recorded a 50-point game in 1994. But he has some salty memories adjacent to it. “That’s when Chris Webber pissed me off and made the Nike commercial,” Barkley told his co-hosts. “I wanted to give it to you C-Webb!” Barkley revealed his motivation behind that game.

While with the Phoenix Suns, Barkley was in the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors. The most vivid memory from that game getting posterized by NBA rookie, Chris Webber. The No. 1 draft pick barrelled for Chuck and pulled a wraparound dunk. Barkley deployed some of his ‘fall on his a**’ training he was giving Zion Williamson and fell on his butt.

That clash was the perfect setting for  Barkley and Webber’s commercial for Nike. The sneaker giant had memorable TV spots with the ‘Barbershop’ series and the ‘I’m not a role model’ series. Two years before the commercials, Barkley had famously commented he’s not a role model and kids should not look up to celebrities. Webber is in the barbershop when his teammate, Latrell Sprewell asked what was Chuck’s response to the behind-the-back dunk. Webber claimed, “He said, ‘I don’t believe in role models, but you mine.'” 

After the commercial aired, Barkley got sweet revenge in Game 3. The Barbershop duo from Bay Area were shoved and run over by The Round Mound of Rebound that season. He torched them with 56 points and 14 rebounds. That was the year Chuck won MVP too. His friendship with Webber though didn’t suffer.

Charles Barkley, the unintentional role model

Barkley was a mentor to Webber despite being opponents. Chuck even welcomed his prodigy into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2021. He spoke about Chuck in his speech like he was his role model and not the other way round as he joked in the Nike commercial.

Despite their rivalry and playful banter, Chuck was nothing but fond later when he gave Webber a shoutout. “Love you, brother, miss you,” he said after pretending to be salty over the Nike commercial.

Meanwhile, Ernie and Kenny were in awe of the list containing Chuck and Wilt, and now Embiid as one of the 50+ point scorers in Sixers history. He’s missed the MVP candidacy but looking at the history he’s now part of, Embiid did indeed follow in the footsteps of Philadelphia’s best MVPs.