SUMMARY
- Shaquille O'Neal shares Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's advice with Joel Embiid, emphasizing the importance of postseason success to solidify one's legacy.
- Despite Joel Embiid's outstanding regular-season performance, O'Neal highlights the necessity of Playoff success.
Joel Embiid has been on fire this NBA regular season. He’s averaged 34 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists this season with a field goal percentage of 53.5%. These are monster numbers that surpass even some of the NBA’s greatest-ever centers. The 76ers are flying high too, with a 24-13 record so far. If Embiid continues to perform the way he has, the Sixers are almost guaranteed to make the Playoffs this year.
The reigning Kia MVP has had his fair share of critics, following last year’s Playoff disappointments. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal voiced his opinion on the matter on ‘The Big Man Podcast’ recently. Shaq was asked, “What is he [Joel Embiid] supposed to do for the rest of the year before the playoffs?” to which he had some words of wisdom to pass on to the 29-year-old Cameroonian.
O’Neal replied, “I’mma give it to him like Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] gave it to me…I was averaging big numbers with LA, really bigger than his…as big as Wilt [Chamberlain]…but, we kept getting swept in the playoffs…they ask Kareem, ‘What do you think of Shaq?’ and Kareem says, ‘Well, he hasn’t won any championships yet.’ So, that’s my message to Mr. Embiid.”
Shaq went on to add, “Like, we know what you can do but can you do it at the big dance? Can you do it at the big dance? Can you get the phone number at the big dance and can you take it home and close the deal? And that’s why I say Joker is the best big man in the league. Joker went to the big dance and got the thing done”. Shaq has made his stance clear. It’s lonely at the top and Embiid has yet to earn his ‘Most Valuable’ status.
The history behind Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s relationship
O’Neal and Abdul-Jabbar themselves have had a rocky relationship. It all started when Kareem and Shaq appeared in a Reebok commercial in 1993. The ad also featured legendary centers like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Shaq felt that Kareem did not acknowledge him on the set and he took that personally. Like MJ. Shaq has also accused the showtime sensation of not reaching out to him when he moved to Lakers in 1996.
…for reference, here’s the commercial they were shooting.
h/t @redapples https://t.co/6T5R0gMOHS
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) April 26, 2020
The duo ended their beef on the day LeBron James broke Kareem’s record for most points scored in NBA history. They hugged it out for the whole world to see and settled their differences like adults. Kareem acknowledged his mistakes and Shaq reciprocated saying: “I will never ever have beef with the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.” It only took the 7-footers about thirty years to settle their differences.
The beef between big men is commonplace in the NBA. Whether it’s Wilt and Kareem or Kareem and Shaq, or Shaq and Dwight, there’s always something nasty brewing. But the Big Diesel might be genuinely looking out for Embiid. It’s important to put everything into context here. Shaq had a drill sergeant for a stepfather whose tough parenting style sculpted his winner-mentality.
IMPROBABLE DOESN’T MEAN IMPOSSIBLE #EMVPIID pic.twitter.com/LU4RsPOge3
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) May 8, 2023
Joel Embiid has been a force to be reckoned with in the regular season for several years now. Shaq’s advice could be construed as valid criticism of his underwhelming playoff record. However, it also has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Nikola Jokic fared poorly in the playoffs in 2022, and his detractors had a field day over it. We all know what happened next. All eyes are on where ‘The Process’ goes from here.