Sixers

Shaq Elaborates on Initial Ben Simmons Annihilation and Ensuing Slide into DMs

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Feb 4th, 2022 · 9:05 AM EST

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The other night, Shaquille O’Neal obliterated Ben Simmons on TNT. Just destroyed him. Called him a “crybaby” and other things. Ben DMd Shaq essentially saying “yo what the fuck man?” and then Shaq followed up on TNT:

"We criticize them because we got criticized… The great ones step up to criticism."@SHAQ discusses his exchange with Ben Simmons. pic.twitter.com/qMESZ6tQkF

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 4, 2022

It’s certainly true that Shaq and Charles Barkley hammered Joel Embiid. They really went in hard on him. They called him lazy and said he wasn’t playing anywhere close to his potential.

This line from Shaq, circa 2019, is the one I remember most:

“We’re telling you you can be great; you’re not playing hard enough. 22 (points) ain’t enough to get you to the next level.”

It seemed somewhat harsh at the time, but Shaq was right. Embiid had greatness written all over him and you know there was more for him to give. There was another level to reach, and Embiid responded to that.

Remember this video clip? –

I asked #Sixers’ Joel Embiid about the criticism Charles Barkley and Shaq had about his performances. This is what he said: pic.twitter.com/aOk6q8X2ht

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) December 12, 2019

Embiid took the criticism, considered it, and then turned himself into an MVP candidate and beloved local figure. Simmons took the criticism, bottled it, and refuses to play. Different DNA for two different players here.