Charles Barkley Gets Ridiculed After Blaming Joel Embiid For Loss

Charles Barkley often provides us with awesome content due to his unfiltered nature. But on Tuesday night, he missed the mark badly when speaking on Joel Embiid.

Following the Sixers’ blowout loss to the Heat in Game 5, Barkley went on a rant on why the big man was to blame for the lackluster effort.

“Joel Embiid is so distracted, in my opinion, by this MVP thing. He’s not there tonight. He’s got 6 points but he’s not being aggressive, he’s throwing the ball away – I mean like, I wonder on that team who’s going to go, ‘Hey man, you’re the MVP. We know you’re the MVP. Now go out here and prove it.’ But Ernie, when you are mad about something it can work both ways. And it’s working the wrong way for Joel Embiid tonight. He is so distracted.”

See more

"When you're mad about something, it can work both ways. It's working the wrong way for Joel Embiid tonight."

Chuck sounds off on Embiid's first half performance in Game 5. pic.twitter.com/0vg0cspWaG

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 11, 2022

Fans took issue with Charles Barkley’s comments about Joel Embiid. Especially considering that the center is playing through multiple different facial injuries suffered in the Raptors series.

See more

Charles Barkley a former Sixer thinks Joel Embiid had his “head in his ass” cause of the…MVP vote? But not the fractured face that just got slammed, the torn thumb, or recent concussion? Elite analysis! pic.twitter.com/iVdeJuEtyz

— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) May 11, 2022

See more

charles barkley accusing Embiid of being distracted like there isn't a literal throbbing crack in his skull

— #1 Tim Bontemps fan (@Mao_ZeDunk) May 11, 2022

See more

Charles Barkley said Embiid is distracted by the MVP votes like his body is not on life support.

— Ahmed🇸🇴/Former CNN+ Employee (@big_business_) May 11, 2022

See more

What in the world is Barkley talking about? Embiid is “distracted” because he didn’t win the MVP? And that’s why the Sixers aren’t playing well?

He’s “distracted” because he’s got a broken eye, ripped up thumb, injured his back diving for a loose ball, then got hit in the face.

— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) May 11, 2022

See more

Charles Barkley’s criticism of Joel Embiid is unwarranted and unfair >… #Tysdal #Sports #TyTysdal #TylerTysdal #SportsNews https://t.co/Z2HPZXKWTWhttps://t.co/ZfDxiv3Lzo pic.twitter.com/TDSXrgFOU7

— Tyler Tysdal (@TysdalTyler) May 11, 2022

See more

"Joel Embiid is so distracted in my opinion by this MVP thing. He's not there tonight"

— Charles Barkley#NBATwitter #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/sBYSXlXwlR

— 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 (@_Talkin_NBA) May 11, 2022

Joel Embiid made his return to the Sixers way earlier than expected in Game 3, and promptly carried the team back into the Heat series.

Sure, Tuesday was a mess and certainly not Embiid’s best effort. But to pin the game on his performance id completely off-based given the circumstances.

We hope Charles Barkley never changes, but he might have to offer an apology to Joel Embiid after this one.

---

Welcome to the game outside the game! Follow us on our Sideaction Twitter handle, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest on sports and pop culture news across the web!