“He needs to walk like it, talk like it, act like it, act like it, play like it” – Shaquille O’Neal expects Joel Embiid to win MVP, suggests him ways to improve his game for winning MVP unanimously
Shaquille O'Neal picked Joel Embiid to win the 2023 MVP award. The four-time NBA champ was not pleased with the Philadephia 76ers' big man's display on opening night.
The 2022-23 NBA season started with the Boston Celtics hosting the Sixers. Although Embiid finished the game with 26 points and 15 rebounds, it was a comfortable victory for the Celtics.
On "The Big Podcast," Shaq reiterated his stance on Embiid being the unanimous MVP. However, he maintained that the big man needs to dominate the paint.
(From 15:30)
"Yeah, but he needs to look like it. He needs to walk like it, talk like it, act like it, play like it. Listen, we know you can shoot the jumper but when you got a guy small on, you gotta take advantage.
"When you are a 7-footer and you're further away from the basket, okay, the shot goes in it's cool but the percentage of it going in all the time is not gonna be high. If you are closer to the basket you can double your percentage. ... Hopefully, he picks it up because if I was playing, I got beat 2 years in a row, I'm coming in third year like okay y'all don't think I'm MVP, watch this. So, if doesn't get unanimous MVP, I'll be disappointed."
Against the Celtics, Embiid was forced outside the paint. He knocked down one shot from the perimeter in six attempts.
Shaquille O’Neal had some advice for Joel Embiid
Shaq has always been an advocate for paint dominance, and he wants the same for Embiid. He believes the big man is not playing to his strengths yet.
On the same podcast, he dished out the advice he believes will help Embiid be more productive and improve his chances of winning the MVP award.
"The Philadelphia 76ers played the same way. I'm a big proponent of never making the same mistake twice. So, if I played a certain way and it didn't work, I'm going in the summer, mentally, I'mma think about what I'mma do different. And when I step on the court I do something different.
"Joel's gonna average 25 26 but if he does what I tell him to do and just dunk it six, seven times a game that gives you six to eight extra points. And then if you're averaging 34 35 and everybody else is averaging 27 MVP gotta go to you."
Last season, Embiid finished as a runner-up in the MVP voting behind Nikola Jokic. Although he won the scoring title, he believes he was robbed of the MVP.
Joel Embiid registered a 40-piece against the San Antonio Spurs
The Sixers have had a ridiculously poor start to their 2022-23 campaign despite Embiid's efforts. Although the Cameroonian struggled against the Milwaukee Bucks, he turned things around in their last outing.
However, Embiid's 40-point double-double was not enough to give the Sixers their first victory of the season against the San Antonio Spurs. They currently occupy the 14th spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a 0-3 record.
Joel Embiid tonight:
40 points
13 rebounds
56% FG https://t.co/DolxwrtthM
The Sixers will take on the Indiana Pacers on Monday in search of their first win. It will be their final home game before they go on a four-game road trip.