Joel Embiid Sparks Massive Outrage Among NBA Fans After Bold GOAT Claim

Sometimes the best quality that a person can have is self-awareness.

It feels like that's something that Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid could use a little bit more of right now. The all-star center is currently facing some backlash on social media after a new story from the New York Times quotes Embiid as saying that he is talented enough to be the greatest basketball player of all time, but it's the many injuries that have gotten in his way.

Of course, the greatest ability is availability.

"I think I’m that talented," Embiid said, per the New York Times. "If you think about it, the thing that stopped me all these years is just freak injuries. Every single playoffs, regular season, people falling on my knee or breaking my face — twice. It’s always freak injuries at the wrong time.”

Of course, this seems like something very bold to say for someone who has never taken his team to the Conference Finals before. While Embiid did win the NBA MVP in 2023, there have been questions about his ability to be the centerpiece of a team due to his injury risk.

It's fair to say that fans didn't react well to this quote on social media.

Embiid still has a bit of runway ahead of him to try and live up to that GOAT status that he thinks he's able to obtain, but unless he can prove that he's able to stay healthy for even a full season or two, there's not much argument to be made.

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