While Stephen A. Smith held Ben Simmons responsible for wasting Joel Embiid’s prime, his First Take counterpart, Shannon Sharpe, had different views. Sharpe placed the blame on Embiid for his own decline, making a point to comment on his weight in the process. Embiid has been consistently mocked this season for being out of shape as the 76ers hit new lows. Following a victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 4, Philadelphia has suffered five consecutive losses, and Embiid may require another knee surgery, a situation that drew Sharpe’s criticism during Wednesday’s episode of First Take.
ESPN’s debate shows have a history of scrutinizing athletes for their conditioning, and Sharpe did not spare Embiid. While criticism of Zion Williamson for his weight may have gone too far, the network and its personalities often take jabs related to fast food.
“Peak Embiid wasted peak Embiid because he never took his diet and nutrition seriously,” Sharpe stated. “He limped into the NBA; why did he fall to the draft position he did? A bad back was the reason. Instead of focusing on losing weight to relieve pressure on his back, knees, and ankles, he chose to indulge in fast food. It might have seemed amusing at the time, but in the end, it had serious repercussions. The process? It’s all about elimination. The Sixers’ chances are over. They experimented with Paul George, but unless circumstances change, he doesn’t resemble the player he was in Indy or with the Clippers, nor his MVP-caliber self with OKC.”
Sharpe concluded that Tyrese Maxey, not Embiid, has emerged as the best player on the 76ers, primarily due to the inconsistency of the 2022-23 NBA MVP. “When has he been fully healthy during the playoffs? He limps in and out each season,” Sharpe pointed out. “Instead of representing the U.S. team—though I’m glad he got his gold medal—he should have focused on the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that invested heavily in him. What do they get in return? A missed season due to surgery and now he’s limping around like a pirate. This isn’t about Ben Simmons; it’s Joel Embiid wasting the peak of his career.”
Sharpe’s critique extended beyond injuries to emphasize priorities. The Sixers have staked everything on Embiid, yet he hasn’t made the right investments in himself. Philadelphia believed in “the process,” but Embiid seemed to prioritize elsewhere. Now, their championship aspirations are crumbling alongside their star’s reliability.
