Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is taking a cautious approach to his health this season after missing 43 games last year due to a lingering left knee injury. The 76ers are also prioritizing his well-being.
The team announced last week that Embiid will not participate in any preseason games. Additionally, Embiid recently made it clear that he no longer intends to play in back-to-back games.
However, former NBA star Kevin Garnett had a strong reaction to Embiid’s decision. Garnett didn’t hold back during an episode of the ‘Ticket & The Truth’ show, where he criticized Embiid’s approach to managing his playing time.
“82 games, man. This is what the f*****g job calls for! You’re not practicing. You don’t play in the summer. I can understand if you’re engaging in summertime playground ball, participating in the Olympics, then heading into training camp. You guys have 30 days of two-a-days; that’s when you get rest,” Garnett said.
Kevin Garnett Slams Joel Embiid’s Rest Plan, Cites Fitness As A Bigger Problem
The NBA has been actively cutting down the number of back-to-back games in recent seasons to prevent injuries. However, Kevin Garnett believes that this strategy doesn’t address a more significant issue among today’s players.
During the recent episode of the ‘Ticket & The Truth’ show, Garnett shared his thoughts on the matter, particularly in response to Joel Embiid’s decision to sit out back-to-back games. Garnett expressed that the issue isn’t just about reducing games but about the physical condition of the players themselves.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
“The point is they’re not in shape. Let’s just keep it 100. They’re not in shape, and that’s why everybody is getting injured. You see everybody sitting out getting injured. Nobody is in tip-top shape,” Garnett said.
Garnett played all 82 regular-season games four times throughout his career. Hence, for him, staying healthy is all a player needs rather than making excuses on the number of games.
