Summary
Philadelphia 76ers player Joel Embiid is preparing to play his first regular season game after an eight-month break because of a knee injury. NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal is doubtful about Embiid’s current abilities and thinks Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić is now the better player. O'Neal has spoken openly about this on his podcast, hoping to motivate Embiid to improve.
Key Facts
- Joel Embiid will participate in the 76ers' season opener against the Boston Celtics.
- Embiid has not played for eight months due to a knee injury.
- He played only 19 games last season and was declared "medically unable to play" by the 76ers.
- Embiid's performance dropped last year, with an average of 23.8 points per game.
- In comparison, he previously averaged 34.7 points per game in the 2023-24 season.
- Shaquille O'Neal believes Nikola Jokić is now the NBA's top center, surpassing Embiid.
- O'Neal discussed Embiid's form on his podcast, "The Big Podcast With Shaq".
