Charles Barkley offered some harsh words about Joel Embiid’s disappointing performance at the Olympics.
The NBA commentator and 76ers legend criticized the 30-year-old Embiid on Monday’s episode of “Podcast P with Paul George,” saying the player was in bad shape and should be ashamed of his performance so far in Paris.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why he always gets hurt. I don’t think he’s in good enough shape,” Barkley said of the Sixers big man. “He should be a little embarrassed about the way he’s playing.”
Embiid had 15 points, three rebounds and two assists on 6-of-14 shooting in a 100-74 win over Puerto Rico on Saturday in the group stage. The U.S. earned the top seed in the knockout round and advanced to a quarterfinal against Brazil on Tuesday.
Boos rang out throughout the Stade Pierre Mauroy, but Embiid urged the French crowd to get louder.
The Kansas native, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, couldn’t put his foot down, whiffing a shot from near half-court with just seconds left in the game.
“At the end of the day, I think a lot of people see it as hate. I see it as love and respect. If I wasn’t a decent basketball player, I wouldn’t be treated like that,” Embiid said. EuroHoops.
“So I consider myself blessed and that’s why I associate with these people. I associate with these people and those types of people because, like I said, I’m blessed to be here. But I’ve seen worse.”
2024 Paris Olympics
While the NBA star’s performance was disappointing, Saturday’s game was his best of the campaign in Paris.
Anthony Edwards was named MVP with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, and Kevin Durant became Team USA’s all-time leading scorer.
Barkley’s assessment may be on the harsh side, but the analyst is among the many who have been disappointed with the 2023 MVP’s performance.
Philadelphia fans even mocked him.
“They are [Philadelphia fans] “The boos are more directed at our team than the other team, and sometimes it feels like the fans who are supposed to be against the other team are against us, but like I said, it’s all love, because people are rooting for us, and they want us to do better, just like this crowd does. I enjoy the boos too, because it makes me want to be better, to try harder, to do whatever it takes to win,” Embiid said. He told Eurohoops.
Embiid made his U.S. national team debut in the USA Basketball Showcase leading up to the Olympics, averaging 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 16.6 minutes per game in five exhibition games (starting all of them).
The U.S. team will begin the knockout round on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. ET against Brazil at Accor Arena.
