Shaq Reveals His Take On LeBron James’ 76ers Title Chances And Addresses Joel Embiid
Shaq did not mince his words when he was asked about the Sixers.
The Philadelphia 76ers had one of the busiest offseasons in terms of talent acquisition. They netted not just one, but two bona fide superstars via trade and free agency. And due to their massive haul, everybody has their own take about Philly’s chances for a title this upcoming season, including Shaquille O’Neal.
Trading for Jaylen Brown was already viewed as a huge win for the Sixers. But securing LeBron James’s services was the icing on the cake. The four-time MVP chose them over other potential suitors. Does this mean that they are favored to win it all next year? In Shaq’s eyes, there are only two possible outcomes.
Shaquille O’Neal Issues Statement About Philly’s Title Chances
Shaquille O’Neal (Image Credits: Imagn)
The Sixers now have four superstars on the team: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James. Add incoming sophomore guard VJ Edgecombe to the mix, and their starting five is projected to be one of the strongest in the league.
Are they poised to win it all? When Shaq was asked about Philly’s title chances in 2027 during his appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, he bluntly gave an honest answer.
“Championship or bust,” O’Neal said.
“This team is put together to win the championship now. And I think if they don’t win the championship, as players, I think all those players will be very, very disappointed. They have all the pieces they need,” the 2000 MVP winner added.
Truth be told, anything short of a title would be considered a wasted year for LeBron and the rest of the Sixers. We haven’t seen a star-studded lineup like this since Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Shaq Challenges Joel Embiid to Step Up His Game
Joel Embiid (Image Credits: Imagn)
As one of the best centers to play in league history, O’Neal usually holds talented big men to a higher standard. He’s rooting for them to succeed and, most importantly, dominate.
While he has acknowledged that Denver’s Nikola Jokic is the best big man in basketball, he has now challenged Joel Embiid to take his game to another level.
“Joker has surpassed him,” O’Neal said. “My question to Joel: Does he want it back? And if he does, please show me,” he added.
Injuries have hounded Embiid’s career in recent years. He went from playing at an MVP level to playing second fiddle to Tyrese Maxey. Can he stay healthy this time, or are his knees cooked?
If James and Embiid can suit up for more than 60 games next season individually, then Philadelphia might have a chance to top the East. That’s just the regular season, though. When talking about their playoff chances, that’s going to be a different story.
