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Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal debate Joel Embiid's future role

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 28, 2026, 10:30 PM

Last updated Jul 28, 2026

Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal debate Joel Embiid's future role

Summary

Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal recently discussed Joel Embiid's potential impact following LeBron James' trade to the Philadelphia 76ers. O'Neal, speaking on SiriusXM, suggested Embiid could emerge as the NBA's top big man, while Barkley disagreed, claiming Embiid might be the fourth option on the team. Barkley advised Embiid to focus on health and defense, citing his regression amid injuries. The debate highlights differing perspectives on Embiid's future with the star-studded Sixers lineup, which includes LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•O'Neal believes Embiid is poised for an MVP run following LeBron's trade.
•Barkley suggests Embiid may be the fourth-best player on the 76ers.
•Injuries have contributed to Embiid's declining performance on defense and rebounding.
•The debate centers on the impact of LeBron's addition to the 76ers roster.

Latest Updates

10:30 PMYahoo Sports — Charles Barkley mocks Shaquille O’Neal’s bold Joel Embiid prediction

What they're saying

"
LeBron James being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers has Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal giving conflicting takes about Joel Embiid. O’Neal joined Stephen A. Smith on his SiriusXM Radio show this week where he reacted to the LeBron trade by labeling Embiid the biggest winner. According to O’Neal, the 32-year-old Embiid who hasn’t played more…
— Yahoo Sports

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