“Too selfish to take a backseat…” 76ers look unhappy when ‘unfit’ Joel Embiid takes driver seat, claims Gilbert Arenas

On his podcast, former player Gilbert Arenas proclaimed that the Philadelphia 76ers are not too happy with Joel Embiid in the driver’s seat.

Joel Embiid and Gilbert Arenas (inset)

One on the major headlines throughout the 2024 season has been about Joel Embiid‘s struggle with his knee injury management. Many experts and former players have joined the conversation regarding Embiid’s health status and what it means for the Philadelphia 76ers organization.

The 2023 MVP and the cornerstone of the Philadelphia 76ers has come under fire from former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, who questioned his leadership and fitness on his podcast. Arenas, never one to mince words, indicated that the 76ers don’t appear content when Embiid takes control of the team, especially when he is not at full strength.

I am just gonna be honest. They [Sixers] don’t look happy when Embiid is out there. Yeah, you are good, but we’re sitting here practicing every day… and you are not healthy, and you are too selfish to take a back seat.
Gilbert Arenas said on his show

“The [Sixers] don’t look happy when Embiid is out there.”

Does Embiid need to let the leader role go? pic.twitter.com/XMMkOceDQA
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) December 12, 2024

Agent Zero critiqued that Joel Embiid’s dominance on the court occasionally overshadows the team’s collective effort, suggesting that he should take a backseat to let Paul George or Tyrese Maxey drive them to the promised land.

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Calling out the 76ers’ big man for his selfishness, Arenas explained that this situation mirrors what happened when Shaquille O’Neal first moved to the Miami Heat. Although it was Dwyane Wade‘s team, Shaq and D-Wade butted heads to be the number one man on that team before the veteran Gary Payton took the big man aside and talked some sense into him. It all worked out in the end since the team won its first title ever in 2006.

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Gilbert Arenas speaks out on Joel Embiid’s knee struggles

On his latest episode of the Gilbert Arenas Show, the former player offered a sobering take on Joel Embiid’s ongoing knee issues. Implying that the MVP’s career may be at a turning point due to chronic knee problems, Arenas gave his unfiltered opinion-

[Embiid’s] knee is done. This is it. This is that athlete who most likely, the cartilage is gone from his knee, and he’s out there with no brake pad. There’s only so much time before you gon’ go back because it’s irritated.
Gilbert Arenas said

“[Embiid’s] knee is done. He is out there with no brake pad.”

Gil is convinced Joel Embiid’s knee will keep him from playing in the future. pic.twitter.com/NuaMJ2ahdi
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) December 9, 2024

Although the former Wizards player painted a pretty bleak picture, he did make some valid points. Embiid is yet to play more than 68 games in a single season in his career so far. Plagued with injuries, Gilbert Arenas comments highlight the toll such injuries take on the players in the long run.

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Drawing a comparison between Embiid’s condition to former All-Star Brandon Roy, whose career ended abruptly because of ongoing injuries, Gilbert insinuated that the former MVP could also meet the same fate.