While Stephen A. Smith blamed Ben Simmons for wasting Joel Embiid’s peak, his First Take sparring partner had other ideas. Shannon Sharpe blamed Joel Embiid for Joel Embiid’s downfall — and made sure to make a crack at his weight in the process.
Embiid has been repeatedly ridiculed for being out of shape this season as his 76ers reach new lows. After beating the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, Feb. 4, Philadelphia has lost five straight games. On top of that, Embiid potentially needs another knee surgery, which drew Sharpe’s ire during Wednesday’s First Take.
ESPN’s debate shows have never shied away from calling out players for their conditioning, and Sharpe wasn’t about to let Embiid off the hook. While criticism of Zion Williamson may have gone too far, the Worldwide Leader—and its personalities—aren’t above taking some fast food-related potshots.
“Peak Embiid wasted peak Embiid because he never took his diet and nutrition seriously,” said Sharpe. “He limped into the NBA. Why did he fall to the pick he fell to? 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’s, you know what.’ But in the end, it came back. The process? All this is a process of elimination. It is over for the Sixers. They tried Paul George, and unless something turns around, he doesn’t look like the Paul George in Indy, he hasn’t looked like the Paul George with the Clippers, and he damn sure hasn’t looked like the Paul George when he finished like third or fourth in the MVP when he was at OKC.”
Sharpe’s argument boiled down to Tyrese Maxey, not Embiid, being the best player on the 76ers — and that’s because they can’t count on the 2022-23 NBA MVP anymore.
“When has he been healthy for the entirety of a playoffs? He limps into the playoffs,” said Sharpe. “He limps out of the playoffs. What he should’ve done, instead of playing for the U.S. team — and I’m glad he got a gold medal — he should’ve 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 do they get for it? You missed the season because 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’s argument wasn’t just about injuries; it was about priorities. The Sixers bet everything on Embiid, but he never bet on himself the right way.
Philadelphia put its faith in the process, but Embiid put his elsewhere.
Now, their championship hopes are collapsing just like their star’s durability.
