Shaq Reacts to Joel Embiid Controversy

Recently, 76ers head coach Nicholas David Nurse spoke to the press, releasing a statement about Joel Embiid's knee injury. Nurse reinforced the importance of exercising caution, saying, "The plan is why he's not playing. He did not re-injure himself. The plan is that we don't feel he's quite ready; strong enough, light enough, whatever it is—they've determined he's not quite ready to go. He hasn't played in any full-court scrimmages."

When Ernie Johnson, one of Inside the NBA's presenters and panelists asked, "Is it understandable, given his injury history, that he would want to be careful and be ready for the NBA playoffs?" In response, the panel gave a resounding "no." Shaq was perhaps the most critical of Nurse's decision, saying:

"Let me ask you a question: how did he get hurt last year? Remember? He was playing great and somebody ran into his knee, right? That's a freak injury. You can't foresee that. So, my point is: you can't be afraid of injuries. You can say he's injury prone. He's a big guy, whatever, whatever, but when you're trying to win a championship, the plan is: we need to be dominant at home... The plan is I need to show everybody I'm the best big man. The plan is I've got to keep everybody involved so that if I do go out, Guys like Tyrese Maxye have the confidence to hold it down until I get back. You can't say, well you know, I'm going to sit and cheer until I get back. Well, what if somebody falls into his knee again? You can't prevent freak injuries. For example, I missed 200 games [due to freak injuries]."

Being a hair over 30, as strange as it might sound, in basketball terms that means Embiid's probably only 4-7 years away from retirement. With that in mind, it's easy to argue that Nurse should prioritize Embiid's long-term health in order to maximize the length of his career with the 76ers.

We shouldn't downplay Embiid's injury (a displaced flap of the meniscus, which is a type of tear that can sideline a player for months and requires surgery), it could have serious long-term consequences. That said, Emiid did sign a three-year $193 million dollar contract with the 76ers, so he'll be hard pressed to receive much sympathy.

O'Neal knows a thing or two about freak injuries. Shaq underwent a series of injuries in the early 2000s (when he was around the same age as Embiid). In 2001, a player came down on the big man's right toe, causing hallux limitus (an arthritic joint with limited range of motion). O'Neal underwent several weeks of rehabilitation after surgery, but his pain didn't affect his performance in the NBA playoffs, and he was named the NBA finals MVP.

Keep in mind that Shaq played in a different era, when playing through an injury was commonplace. A player's rest wasn't an organization's top priority. While fans and pundits argue about what the right decision is regarding Emiid, there was no doubt in O'Neal's mind.

Right or wrong, it's easy to see where O'Neal is coming from.

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