Team USA is currently on a dominant run in the ongoing Paris Olympics. After ending the 5-match exhibition series undefeated, the 16-time Olympic champions completed a 3-0 sweep in the group stage of the Summer Games. While Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and LeBron James have been praised for their performances, Joel Embiid has been the recipient of severe criticism.
Former NBA star Charles Barkley also didn’t hold back his words and had a harsh reaction to Embiid’s recent performance and his fitness.
During his appearance on ‘Podcast P with Paul George,’ Barkley questioned the seven-time All-Star’s fitness and claimed that it is one of the reasons that Embiid gets injured frequently.
“I hope this is a wake-up [call] for Joel, this Olympic experience. He has not played well and I’m hoping he’s like, ‘Yo man, I gotta get in better shape.’ Me personally, I think that’s one of the reasons he’s always injured.”
“He has not played well in the Olympics game at all. I am hoping somebody can get to him and say, ‘Yo man, you need to get in better shape’. You got to be a little bit embarrassed with the way you played in the Olympics”, Barkley added.
Joel Embiid’s Paris Olympics Games Stat
Team USA concluded group stages with victories over Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico. In their first game against Serbia, Joel Embiid struggled, scoring only four points, grabbing two rebounds, and recording one block.
Embiid was then sidelined during Team USA’s second game, which resulted in a 103-86 win over South Sudan. He then found a spot when Team USA confronted Puerto Rico. Embiid delivered his best Olympic performance in the game, scoring 5 points with three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks on 6 of 14 shooting.
Emiid’s overall average in the two matches he played for Team USA is 9.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
