Charles Barkley Predicts Disaster for 76ers If Joel Embiid Misses Extended Time
Mere months ago, the Philadelphia 76ers were riding high.
Trading guard James Harden on Nov. 1 appeared to be a boon for the perennially snakebitten franchise. The 76ers immediately won six straight games and boasted a record of 18–7 after throttling the Charlotte Hornets 135–82 on Dec. 16.
Since then, things have become a bit more tenuous. Other teams in the Eastern Conference—namely the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers—have caught fire. Center Joel Embiid has battled injuries, and Philadelphia has slid from second to fifth place.
With news breaking Thursday that Embiid would miss time due to a meniscus injury, former 76ers forward and TNT analyst Charles Barkley gave a blunt assessment of his old team’s prospects.
“(Meniscuses) are tricky. I had a meniscus one time and missed a couple weeks, and I’ve seen guys miss a month or two,” Barkley said. “The Sixers, without (Embiid), they might be a lottery team.”
"The Sixers without him, they might be a lottery team… I hope he's not out an extended period of time."
Chuck's reaction to Joel Embiid's meniscus injury pic.twitter.com/PIm5WBUDla— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 2, 2024
Barkley’s injury came in Feb. 1999, costing him a portion of his lockout-shortened penultimate season with the Houston Rockets.
Embiid, the NBA’s reigning MVP, leads the league this year with 35.3 points per game.
“I hope he’s not out an extended period of time because number one, he’s the MVP. That’s how great a player he is,” Barkley said. “The Sixers got zero chance without him. Zero.”
TNT host Ernie Johnson concluded the segment by noting Philadelphia is 3–9 without Embiid this season.
