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TNT analyst Charles Barkley has taken another swipe at NBA superstar Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia Sixers star, 30, has struggled to make an impact in Team USA’s Paris Olympics bid.
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 Olympian.
“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.
“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.
“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
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics – 5 years, $314 million
- Jaylen Brown, Celtics – 5 years, $285.4 million
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets – 5 years, $276.1 million
- Bradley Beal, Suns – 5 years, $251 million (signed with Washington)
- Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves – 5 years, $244.6 million
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers – 5 years, $244.6 million
Per Spotrac
Barkley has decided against retiring at the end of the next NBA season.
The Inside the NBA star’s future was up in the air after TNT lost its rights.
But it has been claimed that Inside the NBA could survive by evolving into a show that covers more sports.
Joe Flint and Amol Sharma of the Wall Street Journal are reporting that TNT could rebrand its offering as Inside Sports.
TNT and TBS will still be broadcasting college basketball and football, as well as baseball, hockey, and tennis.
Barkley’s reputation is as a basketball analyst but he has contributed to golf and hockey coverage.