Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague has added his voice to the long-running debate around Joel Embiid’s work habits, and his take lands in familiar territory: talent has never been the issue, but durability keeps dragging the conversation back to the same place.
Embiid’s résumé still screams superstar. The Philadelphia 76ers centerpiece has the kind of ability that puts him among the league’s elite, and his MVP award is proof of just how high his peak has been.
But that brilliance has always come with a catch. By playoff time, Embiid has often been battling injuries, and that has limited his impact while helping explain why he has never gotten past the second round.
That reality has fueled criticism from figures like Max Kellerman, who has argued that Embiid’s repeated injury issues point to a lack of work behind the scenes. Teague now appears to be in that same neighborhood, at least partially.
"You can tell by his health, he’s probably not the most dedicated person to the craft. I can see that.
Kevin Durant is probably one of the more dedicated players to basketball. See how he recovered from his injury and still be playing at a high level," Teague said about Embiid on Club 520.
Teague didn’t stop there, though, and he also acknowledged Embiid’s extraordinary talent.
"Joel Embiid is one of the most talented players ever, but maybe he doesn’t have the same work ethic. I think he works hard. I know how hard it is to be really good at basketball for him to be at the top at one point in time and be the MVP of the league."
For Embiid, the discussion keeps circling back to the same point: health. He has become accustomed to playing fewer minutes than a superstar normally would, and missed games plus minute restrictions have become part of the routine. If he can finally stay on the floor, the 76ers have the kind of ceiling that makes championship talk real.
Until then, the questions aren’t going away. Embiid can keep trying to quiet doubters like Kellerman and Teague, but the only thing that will really settle it is a healthy run.
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