Joel Embiid’s career has been a tale of dominance and frustration. When healthy, the reigning MVP is arguably the most unstoppable big man in the game. However, injuries have continually derailed his seasons, and Shannon Sharpe believes that Embiid has only himself to blame.
On First Take, Sharpe delivered a scathing critique of the Philadelphia 76ers star, pointing to his poor diet and lack of discipline as the reasons behind his constant health struggles.
“Embiid wasted peak Embiid because he never took his diet and nutrition seriously, Stephen A. He limped into the NBA. Why did he fall to the pick that he fell to, Stephen A? He had a bad back.”
“And instead of losing weight and trimming down to take pressure off that back, take pressure off those knees, take pressure off those ankles, what did he do? He thought it was cute to be sitting on the table eating McDonald’s, eating fast food.”
“It was funny—’I can eat this here and bust everybody, you know what’—but in the end, it came back. The process—all this is—is a process of elimination. It is over for the Sixers.”
“They tried Paul George, and unless something turns around, he hasn’t looked like the Paul George in Indy, he hasn’t looked like the Paul George with the Clippers, and he damn sure didn’t look like the Paul George when he finished, like, third or fourth in MVP voting when he was in OKC.”
“Tyrese Maxey currently is their best player. Joel Embiid? You can’t count on him, Stephen A. you can’t. When has he been healthy for the entirety of a playoff? He limps into the playoffs, he limps out of the playoffs.”
“Instead, what he should have done—instead of playing for the U.S. team—and I’m glad he got a gold medal—he should have sat his butt down. Because your loyalty and your allegiance is to the Philadelphia 76ers—that’s dumped a boatload of money into your bank account.”
“And what did they get for it? You missed the season ’cause you had surgery. Now you hopping around, you out there on one leg, walking like a pirate. This ain’t no Ben Simmons. This is Joel Embiid wasting peak Joel Embiid.”
Sharpe did not hold back, claiming that Embiid wasted his peak years because he never took his nutrition seriously. Sharpe’s remarks referenced Embiid’s early days in the NBA, where stories of him indulging in burgers and junk food were well-known.
Despite coming into the league with an injury history, Embiid failed to adjust his habits to protect his long-term durability. While he has been dominant on the court when available, his inability to stay healthy has hurt the Sixers repeatedly in the playoffs.
The numbers tell the story. Two seasons ago, Embiid won his first MVP award, averaging a staggering 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 54.8% from the field and 33.0% from three.
Yet, this season has been a disaster. He has played just 17 games due to knee issues, posting 24.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 45.4% shooting. Without him, the Sixers have struggled immensely, holding a 20-33 record, which puts them 11th in the Eastern Conference.
Indeed, Joel Embiid has earned over $300 million throughout his career, with a $55 million salary for next season. His massive three-year, $192 million contract extension kicks in afterward, making him nearly untradeable. The Sixers have built their team around him, but with his ongoing injury woes, they may never get a true championship window.
With Tyrese Maxey emerging as the team’s best player this season and Paul George struggling to regain his All-Star form, the Sixers appear to be at a crossroads. Embiid’s future is uncertain, and unless he takes better care of his body, he may never reach the heights that his talent once promised. The Sixers’ championship hopes, once built on “The Process,” may now be nothing more than a failed experiment.
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