Shaquille O’Neal Gives James Harden Brutal Reality Check Following 76ers Slump

Apr 8, 2022 | 3:00 PM EDT

Shaquille O’Neal Gives James Harden Brutal Reality Check Following 76ers Slump

Apr 8, 2022 | 3:00 PM EDT

Dubbed as championship favorites, the Philadelphia 76ers are on a roll. They are currently 4th in their conference and are looking strong for the playoffs. However, it seems NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is not a fan of the James Harden and Joel Embiid duo.

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Talking on Inside the NBA, Shaq went all out to bash Harden and his recent form. According to the 4 times NBA champion, the 76ers do not have a chance of winning in case Harden does not perform. Furthermore, Shaq gives his thoughts regarding what Harden needs to do in order to make his team unstoppable.

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Shaquille O’Neal with an epic rant on James Harden and the 76ers

There is no denying Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most outspoken celebrities. Whether it is an issue on the court or something out of it, he is ready to give his takes on it.

In one such instance, Shaq left no stone unturned to roast James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Los Angeles Lakers legend talked about how Harden has not performed up to expectation which has jeopardized his team’s chances.

Shaq said, “I don’t know if he [James Harden] has the switch, I just know he needs to play the superstar type of level that we know he is capable of playing. 15 assists is cool but you can’t go 3 out of 12.”

He added, “I need 6 points a quarter from him. That’s easy, that’s 3 layups and 2 threes. 6 points a quarter, that’s 24 right there. Another 6-7 points, Embiid’s rolling, now you are talking about a team that’s unstoppable.“

James Harden’s shooting woes hurt his team against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors, led by Pascal Siakam, beat the 76ers 119-114. While Joel Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds, Harden had only 13 points and 15 assists.

Although his assists for the night were impressive, his scoring slump has worried the 76ers fanbase. He shot a shocking 3 for 12! Furthermore, he shot 4 for 10, 4 for 13, and 4 for 10 in his last 3 games. (Source: Statmuse)

Do you think James Harden can win the NBA title this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Written by

Abhinava Ghosh

1,823 Articles

Abhinava Ghosh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with a wealth of experience covering the league. He has written over 1400 articles for EssentiallySports, showcasing his expertise in analyzing and reporting on NBA trade rumors, injury updates, and the ever-changing dynamics of the league. He had successfully covered the entire Kevin Durant trade saga at Brooklyn, which led to the basketball legend’s move to the Desert. He also kept our readers updated on the Brittney Griner situation throughout her exile in Russia. One of Abhinava's proudest moments came in 2015 when the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title after 40 years. As a lifelong fan of the Dubs, Abhinava was thrilled to see his team reach the pinnacle of the sport, but he remained objective and professional in his reporting.

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Pritam Priyedarshi