NY Times: Joel Embiid thinks he could have been the GOAT if it weren't for injuries.

[mkot]

The guy continually mouths off and embarrases himself for no reason. What a great teammate.

“Do you have any doubt about who’s going to win the gold medal? Joel Embiid: I mean, you look at the talent that the US has, but I mean, there’s also equal time on other teams. And the talent that’s on the US team, you also got to understand that most of those guys are also older. LeBron now is not the LeBron that was a couple of years ago. So it’s a big difference. So the name might be there, but everybody would also tell you, and you can see for yourself, the athletic LeBron and the dominant that he was a couple of years ago is not the same that he is now. So, yeah, I mean, I think people get fooled by the names on their own paper, but, yeah, those names have been built throughout their career and now they’re older, so they’re not what they used to be.” – via Apple Podcasts

https://hoopshype.com/rumor/joel-embiid-lebron-james-is-not-what-he-was-a-couple-years-ago/

That's just who he is, throwing his teammates under the bus, no surprise there

[canada_dry]

The guy continually mouths off and embarrases himself for no reason. What a great teammate.

“Do you have any doubt about who’s going to win the gold medal? Joel Embiid: I mean, you look at the talent that the US has, but I mean, there’s also equal time on other teams. And the talent that’s on the US team, you also got to understand that most of those guys are also older. LeBron now is not the LeBron that was a couple of years ago. So it’s a big difference. So the name might be there, but everybody would also tell you, and you can see for yourself, the athletic LeBron and the dominant that he was a couple of years ago is not the same that he is now. So, yeah, I mean, I think people get fooled by the names on their own paper, but, yeah, those names have been built throughout their career and now they’re older, so they’re not what they used to be.” – via Apple Podcasts

https://hoopshype.com/rumor/joel-embiid-lebron-james-is-not-what-he-was-a-couple-years-ago/

That's just who he is, throwing his teammates under the bus, no surprise there

Yep. From simmons. To harden the year aftet. Its his leadership, or lack thereof. Had literally the same quote of "houston james harden is gone" after the 1st playoff run with him in 2022.

What a ridiculous quote to put out there.

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[Kent]

GOAT? As in "greatest of all time?" Really? REALLY?!?!

His best season doesn't come close to any of the best ever.

He hasn't even willed his team past the second round.

How is this even debatable?

[reload141]

GOAT? As in "greatest of all time?" Really? REALLY?!?!

His best season doesn't come close to any of the best ever.

He hasn't even willed his team past the second round.

How is this even debatable?

It’s not debatable, typical Embiid trying to talk himself up when he should probably work on being a good player in the Olympics and then work on his conditioning, for once.

[CobraCommander]

Joel’s not the only one that can say this in any sport - part of being the goat is being healthy so… Kawhi and Embiid and Ben Simmons and Brandon Roy and Yao Ming and Penny and Greg Oden and andrew Bynum could team up and together play a full season in their primes it would be an amazing 41 games with unfortunately no one playing 82 games lol

[RB34]

[gfycat][/gfycat]

People underestimate how insane your resume has to be to have a GOAT level ranking.

He’s had healthy playoff runs and he’s disappointed.

He had one healthy playoff run, with the corpse of Al Horford who acted like a spy for the Celtics, Josh Richardson, and no Ben Simmons during the bubble.

I think that’s incorrect.

At the start of his playoff career his main problem was his fitness. He would continually gas in the 4th. Probably thanks to his pre game burger ritual.

[eyeatoma]

[gfycat][/gfycat]

People underestimate how insane your resume has to be to have a GOAT level ranking.

He’s had healthy playoff runs and he’s disappointed.

He had one healthy playoff run, with the corpse of Al Horford who acted like a spy for the Celtics, Josh Richardson, and no Ben Simmons during the bubble.

I think that’s incorrect.

At the start of his playoff career his main problem was his fitness. He would continually gas in the 4th. Probably thanks to his pre game burger ritual.

Nope, he only had 1 healthy playoff run. Look it up.

[SFour]

GOAT is delusional talk....even fully healthy he's not even close to being in that conversation.....he would have to have another top 20 all-time great player by his side.

[GrandTheftRondo]

The dude can’t even cope with Boston double teams every playoffs.

GOAT my ass

[durden_tyler]

Every other single superstar with the correct mindset has a chance at Jordan spot. i think Shaq is the best example, he had the tools but was too lazy to have that mindset.

The mental part is part of the requirement, if not the #1 need for anyone to have a shot at it.Joel does not have that.

[doogie_hauser]

At this point , I honestly think Joel is just trolling/and baiting the media and fans with his outlandish comments.

He is bit of goofball/big kid at heart.

Don't think he is even close to being a top 30 player of all time tbh

[Woodsanity]

[gfycat][/gfycat]

He had one healthy playoff run, with the corpse of Al Horford who acted like a spy for the Celtics, Josh Richardson, and no Ben Simmons during the bubble.

I think that’s incorrect.

At the start of his playoff career his main problem was his fitness. He would continually gas in the 4th. Probably thanks to his pre game burger ritual.

Nope, he only had 1 healthy playoff run. Look it up.

And he got swept by a nothing special Celtics team.

All time great empty stat padder who doesn't make his teammates better.

[hyper316]

No shot.

The position he plays, the way the game is today, not really possible. Injuries or not.

What about jokic?

[Celts17Pride]

Wanna be GOAT should focus on trying to get past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

[Johnny Bball]

No shot.

The position he plays, the way the game is today, not really possible. Injuries or not.

What about jokic?

Same. We are just pretty much in the post Lebron era like there was a short post Jordan era. There will be another GOAT challenger but it will be a wing or guard.

[Jadoogar]

I understand you need self belief to succeed at this level but it's an insane statement.

He wouldn't even be in conversation for top 5 center of all time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not only dominant in his prime, he played for 20 seasons. Shaq was the most dominant player in league in his prime and won 4 titles. Hakeem won 2 titles and one of the best defenders in history. Then there are the older guys, Russell and Wilt.

[Mogspan]

Honestly not an insane take.

Not an Embiid fan - in fact I enjoy watching him lose - but there’s a reasonable argument that he’s the most talented basketball player ever.

He’s like 7’, 300 lb., athletic, and can shoot. He didn’t begin playing basketball until he was 15 yet became the MVP in the game’s most competitive era.

[Joao Saraiva]

It's interesting players could have been anything and everything if they played in other era, other team or other circumstances.

No, Joel wouldn't be the GOAT. He's obviously very good on offense but he doesn't produce better offense than the GOAT tier guys.

He's a very good defender tough, I'll give you that. But with the way game is played today I don't think he can come close to the impact of Hakeem in his era.

To be the GOAT he'd have to be tremendous and sustain it season after season and in the playoffs. I seriously doubt about that, and don't see him passing LBJ/Duncan/Kareem in longevity (and if he wants a shot at it that's where he needs to be, cause his impact in peak/prime is not gonna surpass MJ, Bron, Shaq)

[UcanUwill]

No shot.

The position he plays, the way the game is today, not really possible. Injuries or not.

What about jokic?

Same. We are just pretty much in the post Lebron era like there was a short post Jordan era. There will be another GOAT challenger but it will be a wing or guard.

Nah, I disagree. Jokic proved you can be center and still the most dominant offensive engine in the game. Now, add the fact centers often can be most dominant defensive force, Center can easily be a goat i think. Short PG might never be goat at this point, too many freaks playing the game at high level now.

[Drakeem]

I mean, the answer is probably no, but the claim rings truer than some might think. When he says this, I'm not just thinking he's talking about the end of the year injuries. He wouldn't have been red-shirted his first few years, would have more offseasons to focus on improving his game and conditioning vs constant rehabbing, etc. Last year before he went down was an unbelievable run. If he had 7-8 years at THAT level? It'd be interesting.