Former MVP Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has already come under fire from a pair of Hall of Famers after a rocky 2025-26 season start.
During a scant 22.1 minutes per game across just four healthy contests, the seven-time All-Star has been averaging 17.3 points on .460/.389/.800 shooting splits, 5.3 boards, 3.5 assists and 1.0 blocks.
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During a recent episode of his show “KG Certified,” Hall of Fame former Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett and his Hall of Fame ex-Boston small forward colleague Paul Pierce ripped into Embiid for his lackluster recent play.
“We just had a summer. What did you do this summer, bro? What did you do this summer? Man, c’mon, bro. I don’t want to hear this,” Garnett said of the explanation that Embiid is recovering from another knee surgery and playing under a strict minutes limit. “I didn’t think Joel looked as polished as we’ve seen him, man. He looked like he’s still hurting. He didn’t look smooth, P. What did he look like in real life?”
Pierce, who had attended Boston’s season opener against Philadelphia, weighed in.
“It looked like he wasn’t as strong as he was a year ago. It looks like he’s still trying to get his legs under him, because I noticed he settled a lot from 3-point [range] and settled for his jumper” rather than driving inside the paint, Pierce said. “You’re coming off offseason surgery, that’s tough. He’s had numerous surgeries, so like I said, I’m not going to make a judgement who’s been MVP in this league until about 25 games [into the season], because [at that point] you really see who you are and who you’re gonna be for the rest of the season.”
The 76ers started off their season on a four-game win streak, but have fallen to a still-good 5-3 record and have dropped their last two straight games. Injured Philadelphia standouts Paul George and Jared McCain, both expected to be key contributors this season, have yet to suit up, so their additions could help shore up the club’s depth issues. Embiid, too, has been sporadically resting his left knee.
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