Joel Embiid’s name keeps landing in the same uncomfortable conversation: superstar talent, elite production, and constant questions about how hard he’s actually wired to work.
That latest round of scrutiny started with The Ringer’s Max Kellerman, who said Embiid apparently “wasn’t among the hardest workers on Team USA in 2024” and raised the question of whether that would matter for the new-look 76ers. Former NBA guard Jeff Teague jumped in on his Club 520 Podcast and did not really soften the blow.
“Saying he ain’t one of the hardest-working superstars, but I think we all know that,” Teague said. “I mean, you can tell by his health.
He’s probably not the most dedicated person to the craft… Kevin Durant probably one of the more dedicated players to basketball. See how recovered from his injury and still be playing at the high level.
“Joel Embiid is just one of the most talented players ever, but maybe he don’t have the same work ethic,” Teague continued. “I think he work 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 to be the MVP of the league.
“I know he put in work, but to be around all those greats and not being the hardest worker don’t mean you don’t work hard,” Teague added. “You just don’t work as hard as LeBron [James].”
That’s the standard Teague used, and it says plenty. There aren’t many players who can stack up with Kevin Durant and LeBron James when it comes to sustained commitment, and both names were brought into the Embiid discussion for a reason.
Durant, now 37, just averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game for the Houston Rockets in 2025-26. James, in his record-breaking 23rd NBA season, put up 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 41-year-old is now Embiid’s new teammate on the 76ers and was recently dominant in offseason runs ahead of his 24th campaign.
When James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia, the idea was obvious: maybe Embiid could soak up some of that professionalism and durability by being around him. Kellerman pressed Rich Paul on whether his client could actually fix things, and Paul said Embiid has been healthy all summer and in great shape. Online pictures also showed the seven-time All-Star looking much slimmer, and James reportedly loved what he saw.
Embiid also reportedly gave James assurances about his health when he recruited him to Philadelphia. Still, the bigger issue remains the same one that has followed Embiid for years: can he stay on the floor?
He averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game for the 76ers in 2025-26, but appeared in only 38 games. Over the past three seasons, he has played in just 96 of a possible 246 games. Since being taken No. 3 in the 2014 NBA Draft, Embiid has appeared in 490 of 965 games, which comes out to about 50.8%.
That durability problem is a huge part of why his career hasn’t translated into a championship run. He has never reached the Eastern Conference Finals, though that could change in 2027.
Philadelphia has gone all-in around him. In addition to James, the 76ers have also added Jaylen Brown, creating a Big 4 with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. On paper, that group gives the 76ers a case as arguably the most talented team in the league and a real title threat.
Kellerman still pushed the trade idea, saying the 76ers should move Embiid because of the health concerns. For now, though, he’s not going anywhere.
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Joel Embiids health and commitment have been a recurring talking point around the Sixers for years, and the latest round of criticism adds another familiar wrinkle to the conversation. Former NBA guard Jeff Teague recently weighed in with a harsh assessment, tying Embiids injury history to questions about his work ethic while holding up Kevin Durant as the model for how a superstar can recover and keep producing at an elite level.
For Philadelphia, the issue is bigger than another former player taking a shot on a podcast or television segment. It speaks to the same nagging uncertainty that has followed Embiid through much of his prime, with Max Kellerman also among those who have raised similar concerns about his approach and durability. As long as the Sixers are built around Embiid, every comment like this lands with extra force because it cuts straight to the one question that never seems to go away. [Read more 🡒]
Former Sixers Pick Just Got The Stability Philly Still Lacks
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Reed has already appeared in 110 games over two seasons with the Pistons, giving him a real foothold in a rotation that values continuity at the position. For the Sixers, it is another reminder of how quickly a familiar piece can move on and find a clearer role elsewhere, especially at a spot where Philadelphia has been searching for more reliability. Reeds new guarantee does not answer every question about his long-term fit, but it does underline what he has been able to secure in Detroit that he no longer had in Philly. [Read more 🡒]