The Philadelphia 76ers have had an impressive start to the 2023-24 season. Joel Embiid has been stellar for Philly, but Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has the upper hand in the big-man battle with his championship win. Shaquille O’Neal gave some harsh, but real advice to the Philadelphia big man.

Shaq chimes in on the Jokic-Embiid debate amid the Sixers center’s stellar season

Shaq joined Stephen A. Smith to debate the comparison of Embiid to Nikola Jokic. First, Smith hit the former Lakers big man with a high claim on Embiid:

“We look at Jokic, some would say he’s the best big man in basketball. But I tell you Shaq, when I look at it from a talent perspective, there are very few people on the planet that have been able to be what Joel Embiid is,” Smith said, per The Stephen A. Smith Show.

This was Shaq’s brutally honest response to Smith’s assertion:

“They’re both great players. If Joel doesn’t win, you’re (Stephen A. Smith) going to kill him. Joker has that edge. He’s won,” Shaq said.

The legendary center recalled an interview where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got real about O’Neal’s early-career play. When asked what he thought of Shaq, Abdul-Jabbar replied, “He’s good, but he hasn’t won yet.” The words broke Shaq’s heart, but he realized that winning sets players apart.

Jokic, the star player for the Nuggets, has the advantage over Embiid because he is the current NBA champion. The Philly center still has time to catch up to and surpass Jokic’s impressive record.

The Sixers are third in the Eastern Conference standings with a 23-11 record. Joel Embiid, meanwhile, leads the league in points scored. He and his team will quickly win an NBA Championship if they can maintain their current success.