Joel Embiid is currently one of the best players in the NBA. He’s a seven-time All-Star who has led the league in scoring twice and won the league’s MVP award in 2023. If it weren’t for injuries, he would have had a very good shot at winning his second straight MVP last season.
And yet, for all his individual success, Embiid has had virtually no success in the postseason, as he has never made it past the second round of the playoffs. Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, Shaquille O’Neal shared some advice he gave his fellow big man.
Shaquille O’Neal’s advice for Joel Embiid
Shaq was just as dominant as Embiid, but the main difference was that he consistently led his teams on deep playoff runs. Sure, he had help from guys like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade when it came to winning titles, but O’Neal knew how to win in the postseason.
While Embiid is skilled, he has some flaws that allow opposing teams to pick apart in a seven-game series. In Shaq’s opinion, Embiid needs to rely more on his teammates, specifically Tyrese Maxey , to help him win games when opposing defenses lock in on him.
“I just want him to play to his ability,” Shaquille O’Neal said on The Draymond Green Show . “If you got another agile big guy, you take him out and you go around him, but anybody that’s smaller than you, you gotta go in the post and then go to work. And then once they double you, you make it easier for (Tyrese) Maxey. Maxey’s a good player, but if he don’t have to work as hard, I think he can be a lot better.”
Could Maxey be the key to the 76ers going on deep playoff runs?
With the departure of James Harden, Maxey blossomed into a star last season alongside Embiid, earning his first All-Star selection and winning the Most Improved Player award. And yet, the duo could not make it out of the first round against the New York Knicks.
Part of that was due to Embiid’s injury woes, but he also struggled with all the attention the Knicks gave him. While O’Neal knows he can beat any player one-on-one, he believes trusting Maxey when he gets double-teamed is the key to their success.
The addition of Paul George, who signed with the team in free agency this offseason, should help Embiid and Maxey out. The front office also worked hard on revamping their supporting cast, and the Philadelphia 76ers are looking strong heading into the upcoming campaign.
Embiid has done just about everything you can on an individual level, but his lack of postseason success is currently a black mark on his legacy. Shaq knows that, and he believes if he relies more on Maxey, he could finally go on a deep playoff run next year.
Related: Shaquille O'Neal on who is better between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid: "They're both great players, but if Joel doesn't win, you're gonna kill him"
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