Shaquille O’Neal believes Joel Embiid is ready for a dominant season and could overtake Nikola Jokic as the NBA’s top big man. Appearing on The Stephen A. Smith Show, O’Neal said Embiid will have a major impact in the 2026-27 season.
“Joel Embiid is going to dominate this year. You heard it here first. Joel Embiid will be the best big man in the league. He’s passing up the Joker this year,” O’Neal said.
The prediction puts the spotlight on Embiid entering a crucial season after injuries limited his availability in recent years. The Philadelphia 76ers center played 38 games during the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.6 steals in 31.6 minutes per game.
Embiid remained one of the league’s most productive offensive centers despite missing time. He shot 48.9% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range on 4.2 attempts per game and 85.4% from the free-throw line while finishing second on the 76ers in scoring behind Tyrese Maxey.
The former MVP’s efficiency and scoring versatility remain the foundation of O’Neal’s argument. Embiid averaged 26.9 points while creating offense from the post, mid-range and perimeter, making him one of the most difficult matchups among NBA big men.
However, surpassing Jokic would require overtaking the three-time MVP, who has remained the standard for centers because of his scoring, playmaking and durability. Jokic continues to set the benchmark as an offensive hub, while Embiid’s case has historically been built around his two-way dominance and scoring volume.
The 76ers enter the season with a significantly reshaped roster designed to maximize Embiid’s championship window. Philadelphia acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade, pairing him with Embiid and Maxey to form a new star trio, before adding LeBron James in free agency.
Maxey averaged 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 70 games during the 2025-26 season, earning All-Star honors and finishing third-team All-NBA. Brown’s arrival gives Philadelphia another elite scorer and two-way wing alongside Embiid.
Philadelphia finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 45-37 record and reached the playoffs, where it defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games before being swept by the eventual Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks in the conference semifinals.
