‘You got to be a little bit embarrassed’ Charles Barkley tells Joel Embiid as he calls Olympics ‘a wake-up experience’
TNT analyst Charles Barkley has taken another swipe at NBA superstar Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia Sixers star, 30, is struggling to make an impact in Team USA's gold medal bid in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Barkley is a long-term critic of Embiid and said the center could "kiss his a**" if he didn't like his comments in 2019.
During an appearance on Podcast P with Embiid's former teammate Paul George, the TV personality had some strong words for the NBA star.
“I hope this is a wake-up for Joel, this Olympic experience,” Barkley said.
“He has not played well. And I’m hoping he’s like, ‘Yo, man, I got to get in better shape,’ because, me personally, I think that’s one of the reasons he’s always injured — I don’t think he’s in good enough shape.
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"But I think the way he’s played, which is not well during the Olympics, should be a wake-up call for him. ‘You know what? I gotta get in better shape. I gotta get healthy. Because if we don’t win the championship or go deep in the playoffs, it’s gonna be because of me.’
“He keeps getting hurt. And, like I said, he’s got to take some responsibility for that.
"Bringing in all those other guys, if Joel doesn’t do his thing, the Sixers are not going to win.
"And like I said, he has not played well at this Olympic games at all.
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"And I’m hoping somebody can get to him and say, ‘Yo, man, you need to get in better shape,’ because the way you play in the NBA when you just go up-and-down the court, pounding inside, No. 1, you can’t win consistently like that in the NBA today.
"But also, you got to be a little bit embarrassed the way you play in the Olympics.”
George did not comment on Barkley's blast.
Instead, he pointed out that Embiid may be struggling to make his mark due to a talent-packed Team USA roster.
The US beat Brazil 122-87 to take their place in the Olympic semi-finals.
A rematch against Nikola Jokic's Serbia comes tomorrow with the winner heading for the gold-medal match.
Highest contracts in NBA history
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- Jaylen Brown, Celtics - 5 years, $285.4 million
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets - 5 years, $276.1 million
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Per Spotrac
Barkley has decided against retiring at the end of next season.
The Inside the NBA star's future was in the air after TNT lost its rights.
But Inside the NBA could survive by evolving into a show that covers more sports.
TNT could rebrand the show as Inside Sports, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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TNT and TBS will still broadcast college basketball and football, as well as baseball, hockey, and tennis.
Barkley has staked his reputation as a basketball analyst, but he has contributed to golf and hockey coverage.