Philadelphia sports fans and media aren’t the only ones irked by Joel Embiid’s lack of production this season, with Reggie Miller getting in on the action too.
The Philadelphia 76ers were blown out by the Golden State Warriors on national television Thursday night with Miller and Brian Anderson on the call for TNT. Despite 28 points and 14 rebounds from Embiid in the loss, Miller called out the former MVP’s lack of shape after noticing he was laboring up and down the court.
“He’s not in shape but Who’s fault is that?”
Reggie Miller is ripping into Joel Embiid on National television
pic.twitter.com/PZvpvFQBjS— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 3, 2025
“He needs to be sprinting,” Miller ranted as TNT showed Embiid hunched over in an attempt to catch his breath. “Now, again, he’s not in shape, but whose fault is that? That’s the player’s fault! So he has to get in better shape so he can be the best version of himself. The MVP version.”
“I love Joel Embiid,” Miller continued to soften the blow. “I think when he’s in shape, he can arguably be considered the best center…Embiid is in that discussion when he’s in shape.”
It’s been a bad season for the 13-19 76ers, it’s been even worse for Embiid who has played just 12 games while battling critics over his lack of production and availability. Embiid has lashed out at his critics, he was engaged in a physical altercation with a Philadelphia columnist, he’s been called out by Shaquille O’Neal, opposing team announcers, and now Reggie Miller.
Embiid has served as a punching bag this season and many of those criticisms have been warranted. But Embiid’s frustrations would imply he isn’t exactly satisfied by his production or availability this season either.
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com