O’Neal Drops Embiid from Elite NBA Big Men Roster: A Harsh Critique” | NBA News | The Times of India

NBA legend and Los Angeles Lakers star, Shaquille O’Neal, candidly criticizes and roasts his peers on his podcast, “The Big Podcast with Shaq.” So, it wasn’t surprising when he recently took a swing at Joel Embiid, a star of the Philadelphia 76ers. According to Shaquille, Embiid no longer ranks amongst the NBA’s top big men. This criticism comes in the wake of the 2025-26 season, where Embiid was seen struggling on the court due to an injury he suffered in February 2025.

On his podcast, Shaquille, known for his blunt comments, remarked: “Embiid has been ousted from the list of NBA’s top big men. I should remind him of this.” He added, “Previously, he and Joker went neck and neck, but now Joker has decidedly surpassed him. It’s disappointing. I hope Embiid hears this, gets infuriated, and reestablishes his dominance.”

Embiid’s diminished court presence since his MVP season is visible, leaving Shaquille disappointed. He has even pointed out that despite Embiid’s presence in the last season, he didn’t appear to be in the best health. Shaquille, who once compared Embiid to Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets, believes Embiid’s performance has deteriorated since.

However, Shaquille’s criticism is meant to reignite Embiid’s dominance. Recalling Embiid’s glory days of two seasons ago – when he won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title in the 2023-24 season, Shaquille’s critique perhaps arises from his expectation of Embiid to return with a bang.

Explaining his style of outspoken criticism, Shaquille said, “When I critique players, they take it personally, but my intention is to motivate them. If my words irk you, that reveals how soft you are.” Despite his harsh tone, Shaquille only wishes for Embiid to rediscover his anger and return to the court with renewed determination.