Shaquille O’Neal rips into Joel Embiid for questionable ‘attitude’ in injury comeback(Image sources: NBA.com, IMAGN)

Shaquille O’Neal has shredded Joel Embiid’s ‘attitude,’ saying the Philadelphia 76ers star will never win a championship if he doesn’t fix it. O’Neal was unimpressed with Embiid’s lack of effort in his first game after a nine-game injury and suspension hiatus. With the 2023 MVP announcing his plans about not playing back-to-backs, O’Neal expected the fellow big man to go off on Tuesday against the Knicks.

However, that didn’t happen as Embiid struggled to perform, especially in the first half. He scored eight points, all from the free-throw line, and missed his only three shot attempts in the opening 24 minutes.

“This was the fear I have for Joel Embiid, you announce arrogantly, ‘I’m not playing back to backs … I’m not injured, but I am sore, I’ll come in when I want to come in,'” O’Neal said on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” halftime show.

“Now, when you say things like that, you’re supposed to come back with extra energy.”

Shaquille O’Neal brought up Joel Embiid’s stats and said he could have gone 0-for-15 but at least played aggressively.

“I’ll say this, respectfully Joel Embiid will never win a championship until he gets his mind and his attitude right,” O’Neal added.

Joel Embiid didn’t make an impact in the second half, either. He finished the night tallying 13 points, three rebounds and five assists, shooting 2 of 11. Embiid was 8 of 8 from the free throw line.

The 76ers were playing on the first game of a back-to-back and will play against the unbeaten 12-0 Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. They dropped to 2-8 after losing 111-99 to the Knicks. Their only chance of toppling the surging Cavaliers lies in Embiid’s availability, especially with Tyrese Maxey still out and Paul George struggling to find his feet.

Joel Embiid suggests taking U-Turn on back-to-backs after Shaquille O’Neal’s rant

Joel Embiid may have heard Shaquille O’Neal’s message. After Tuesday’s game ended, Embiid teased about playing in back-to-backs.

“I want to,” Embiid said (h/t PHLY Sixers). “That’s up to those guys [the medical staff]. I mean, I know I said I would never play back-to-backs, but I’m a troll. So, I’m sure at some point I’ll play. I feel good. I feel good right now. We’re gonna see, but it’s up to them.”

Embiid maintained that the decision to play in back-to-backs remains out of his hands, and if possible, he will take to the court. Embiid has been held back by injuries for the past four playoff runs.

He dealt with a meniscus tear in 2021, a facial fracture and a broken thumb in 2022, an LCL sprain in 2023, and a meniscus injury again in 2024. He was managing the left knee he injured in 2024, leading to his absence at the start of this season.