Joel Embiid’s 2022–23 MVP run saw him average 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds on 54.8% shooting per game. But despite producing 34.7 PPG the following season, the big man who once stood at the apex of the NBA seemed to have lost his shine.
Lingering availability issues, repeated injury setbacks, and shifting team dynamics in Philadelphia have reshaped how the former MVP is perceived and evaluated against his peers.
Shaquille O’Neal Critiques the Widening Gap Between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić
On the latest episode of SiriusXM’s NBA Today with host Justin Termine, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal compared the career paths of the 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the Nuggets’ cornerstone Nikola Jokić, delivering an unfiltered assessment of where both stars currently stand.
“I remember four or five years ago, everybody was saying, you know, he [Joel Embiid] was a little bit better than Joker. But now he’s so far behind Joker that it’s not even funny,” said Shaq.
While Jokić has built a historic résumé, Embiid’s career has been marred by repeated injuries and inconsistent availability, widening the gap between them.
When Termine pressed about Embiid living up to expectations as a big man, Shaq said, “Most certainly MF not… Because with his ability, you always have to do more. Like, even with my four championships, that’s not enough…He (Embiid) has only what? One MVP. In the last three years, he has missed 150 games…He has Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaq-like ability. Should be unstoppable.”
“Joker is unstoppable because he’s going to take the jump shot. But when he’s not on, he’s going to get in that post and will push it up. Joel should be the same way, and when you have legends like Shaq and Charles Barkley telling you what you need to do, your response shouldn’t be, ‘We don’t play like that anymore.’”
“Most certainly MF not.” [On whether Embiid has lived up to my expectations for a big man]@SHAQ on what Embiid must do to become the NBA’s best active center and why he’s still far behind Nikola Jokić.
Weekdays 4–7p EThttps://t.co/U91Jb62Hxo@TermineRadio | @JumpShot8 pic.twitter.com/3Cru63nggW
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 30, 2026
During the 2025–26 NBA regular season, the 76ers’ center appeared in 38 games, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks across 31.6 minutes per night. He shot 48.9% from the floor, 33.3% from long distance, and 85.4% from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, Jokić also delivered a historic triple-double season, averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game over 65 games. He led the league in both rebounds and assists, a rare feat for a center, and finished second in the MVP race behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
After finishing 7th in the Eastern Conference last season with a 45–37 record, the 76ers’ front office has made some blockbuster changes ahead of the 2026–27 campaign. They acquired five-time All-Star guard Jaylen Brown and recently landed four-time MVP LeBron James to strengthen their core rotation.
While the 76ers have assembled a contention-worthy roster, Embiid’s health remains a major concern for the franchise if it wishes to have a deep postseason run.
