"Who gives a f**k about a ring" - Draymond Green throws shade at Joel Embiid for prioritizing title run over playing full season for 76ers
Four-time NBA champ Draymond Green wasn't happy to hear Joel Embiid say that he likely wouldn't play back-to-back games for the remainder of his career. Given his injury history, Embiid's priority is on staying healthy for the postseason in order to put the Philadelphia 76ers in the best possible situation to win an NBA title.
As a result, he isn't going to be playing in back-to-back games, to minimize the wear and tear on his knees between now and the postseason. The way Draymond Green sees things, however, a title isn't guaranteed.
With the NBA's Eastern Conference being incredibly competitive, Green thinks that Joel Embiid going all-in on an NBA title could shortchange him. He believes it could cost the 76ers star valuable opportunities to play that he may regret later on in his career.
On the latest episode of "The Draymond Green Show", the host shared his perspective and said that skipping back-to-backs comes at a price.
"Who gives a f**k about a ring? That ain't happening till June brother! Like, it's cool to have these numbers that you just had. That's great, and enjoy that ... You may never win one. Like, the hope is to win one. And I'm not saying he can't win one, but what I'm saying is you may never win one. And then you shortchange yourself on the thing that we know for sure you can do, which is go get an MVP, which is cook everybody in the league.
"Like, we know you can do that. And so to sit out saying, 'I'm trying to maximize everything so I can get the championship at the end,' but also getting a championship at the end, you got to know how to win a championship. And he don't because he hasn't done it."
"You're not pushing yourself" - Draymond Green explains how Joel Embiid sitting out back-to-backs hinders his growth
As we've seen throughout Joel Embiid's career, it isn't a question of whether or not he can compete with the best of the best, it's a question of whether or not he can stay healthy.
Last season, Embiid played in just 39 games, the fewest of his career since his rookie season (2016-17). Embiid then joined Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, however, despite that, he now finds himself sidelined through the early portion of the NBA season.
Given how much time Embiid has missed, Draymond Green thinks that when the former MVP is healthy, he should play, regardless of whether or not the game is a back-to-back. Green said that when the playoffs come around, it will feel like Embiid is playing back-to-backs.
"Because you've given yourself this rule, you ain't going to get no better, bro. You know what I mean? Like, you're not pushing yourself. I understand injuries and all that sh*t, but what happens in the playoffs when you feel, and your body feel, like 'Damn, dude, I feel like we just played a back-to-back,' You know what I mean?
"Like, ... the games are coming faster. You know it's Sunday, then Tuesday, right? That's a back-to-back damn near with playoff intensity."
With Embiid out for the first week of the season, it will be interesting to see when he returns to action.