Joel Embiid 'DESERVES EVERY PENNY!' - Stephen A. ALL FOR Joel Embiid's extension! | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe join Molly Qerim to react to Joel Embiid signing a 3-year/$192.9 million max extension with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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[@MG-bv3vu]

These GM's never learn.

[@Dm-tu4wf]

And never will

[@pleasedonttemptme5963]

😂 It’s going to be fun to watch, to say the least

[@kaysheye7784]

the salary cap rises every year, this contract extension will look like nothing in a few years fwiw

[@leetraviusmckay314]

Playoff P turned into Podcast P 😂

[@ItzzShazey]

No he turned into Philly P. Keep the talk until the season starts at least. People like you talk like they already played the whole 2025 season.

[@martaviouspaul7117]

@@ItzzShazeywhat can you possibly say that can change our minds about that playoff choker that he’s shown us over the past 5 years with the clippers

[@pleasedonttemptme5963]

@@ItzzShazey ​​Look, I’m not trying rain on your parade (Really, I’m not). But, if you have ANY faith in an Embiid-PG combo of all things being 100% healthy by the playoffs just abandon hope now 😅😂

[@martaviouspaul7117]

Paying two of the biggest playoff chokers of the last decade max contracts is nasty work

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Joel only had 2 teams good enough to win anything. Jimmy year and hardens full season with the team. No one’s winning anything with Ben and tobi making 80 mil together.

[@duhduhduhdiesel1436]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 nonsense. His individual performance always falls way off

[@DamionCampbell-s4d]

Stephen A. Just saying that because he himself wants his money

[@joshingram071]

SAS gonna get his money, he's the face of ESPN

[@ChesterAlexanderCarpio]

It is funny how these analysts attacked Kawhi when his injured but giving their sympathy on Embiid or other stars when they were.

[@adrianlopez7934]

Stephen a be having favorites 🤦‍♂️

[@duhduhduhdiesel1436]

@@ChesterAlexanderCarpio let's add some context: Kawhi has 2 chips and mostly has a history of rising to the occasion when health. Embiid does not

[@chrisdavisii9034]

The man doesn’t even know what a conference finals is. Haliburton, Doncic, Trae Young, and Anthony Edwards all have reached the conference finals before Embiid. Think about that.

[@osvaldopena7837]

Top 5 player that hasn’t been out the 2nd round

[@kaysheye7784]

lol

[@noemamba9590]

Lmao even funnier some idiots try to act like hes a top 5 center. Definition of a regular season player who gets more excuses than most

[@quentingartside2166]

I’ll take Shaq….if he’s healthy😂 they should have to drink every time they say that during the show.

[@thebestever160]

that's another 3 years of not winning the chip with Embum --- congratulations, Filthydelphia!

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Who hurt you lmao

[@kaysheye7784]

that's fine, Maxey's a rising star as we've seen in the playoffs

[@noemamba9590]

@@kaysheye7784 multiple 40 point and 1 50 point from yall best players to still lose to JB next year will be the same.

[@kaysheye7784]

@@noemamba9590 Knicks barely beat the Play-In Sixers who had no depth LMFAO. Josh Hart hurt the Sixers more than anyone else in that series. Sixers shouldn’t be worried with a healthy, improved team

[@Ballad2Grave]

The crowd booed him 00:15 :D

[@slow_Jo]

lols, that's a lot of money for a dude always injured.

[@duhduhduhdiesel1436]

always injured when it matters and even when healthy, his performance falls of a cliff in the playoffs. I see Embiid as a curse kind of player - you'll be a second round or WCF team and win 50-60 teams but will kind of be stuck in that limbo

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

​@@duhduhduhdiesel1436so what

[@ItzzShazey]

@@duhduhduhdiesel1436it definitely didn’t fall off in that series because he had Maxey and that just shows with the right pieces he will dominate every team, especially the knicks.

[@george5432]

@@TashaOneal-l8h So mediocre and overrated is the teams ceiling thats what

[@kaysheye7784]

this ain't the first time an "injury-prone" player has received a max extension. Best believe if Embiid was a role-player, it'd be a different story

[@michaelyoung9628]

The drop a double double on one leg last year in the playoffs I don’t know what that crowd talking about

[@lakerland420]

I guess we can just go find talents like Embiid growing on trees everywhere

[@kohsmoger1567]

So people are fine paying 310 million dollars for Jayson Tatum to not show up in the finals but it’s a problem for a dude that literally won mvp?

[@DavidBagga]

Weird hearing the “breaking news” and not hearing Wojs name attached to it 😐

[@IrvingDL506]

"Playoff P" is also a walking injury, let's not make it seem otherwise.

[@Jacko0825]

Got a bunch of weirdos in the crowd booing

[@thomascrowniii1693]

(A) He was on the floor against the Celtics in game 7 and went 5-18 in 38 minutes. So I don't want to hear sh!t about injuries. (B)The word "deserve" is the issue here. He's "worth" what he can negotiate just like any other player. Based on post season performances, which is the only thing that really matters, I question that he "deserves" to be paid like a player who can be the best player on a team that can get you to the Conference Finals or Finals because he has NEVER done either.

[@supergold9390]

He definitely deserves whatever the max contract is. He is a max contract level player. Philly would be stupid not to extend him because if they don’t they will probably have another 5-10 years of bottom feeding. He’s an mvp level talent.

[@thomascrowniii1693]

@@supergold9390 An MVP level talent who can't get his team past the second round even when he's healthy.

[@supergold9390]

@@thomascrowniii1693 yes. Without him they are in the lottery for the next 5 to 10 years. Pay him. He is near guaranteeing you a playoff spot for next 5 years. If they get all the other pieces correct you may even get a chip.

[@theyreEatingthedogs]

@@supergold9390famous last words

[@noemamba9590]

@@supergold9390 He is 1 leg injury away from his career being basically over. Build around maxey somoene who has PROVED himself already in his young career. Wishing on joel being healthy is not goin to happen even if he is healthy he chokes 5-18 game 7

[@knowEgo]

So Joel’s leadership and lack of clutch play doesn’t factor into the fact that he may not be worth the extension? The health concern applies to all star player WTHU talking about

[@masterofthecraft1990]

Joel being overrated is 🧢

[@CoachRJ334]

My Sixers winning the chip this year ....Go Sixers 🎈

[@denk664]

As a 6ers rival fan, I also agree. Keep giving him the money.

[@user-ic5ku2jk6j]

Stop lying, its his health AND his heart.

[@josephlituma8048]

Exactly no dawg in him

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Lmao he just averaged 34 with 1 leg and Bell’s palsy. Just hating

[@user-ic5ku2jk6j]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 literally seen him quit in previous years. Not to mention he refuses to step foot in Pepsi Arena

[@kaysheye7784]

@@user-ic5ku2jk6j he tell you that he quit?

[@pedrocrneto]

Healthy Jokic >>> healthy Embiid. Embiid is great, but Jokic is on another level.

[@tyresemaxeyfan1726]

🧢

[@agentcodybanx8909]

Embiid was averaging 30 on 1 leg

[@315giants]

Joel always hypes up his injury to fall back on it when they eventually lose jokic played the championship run with a injured wrist and never said nothing about it nor mentioned it he refused to have surgery on it and then lost to the wolves next year he could of made a big deal about it but never mentioned it jokic over Joel any day of the week . Joel prolly wins mvp this year and most likely gets bounced in the 2nd round

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Lmao Joel cooked him already.

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

@@315giantsJoel literally didn’t even mention he had Bell’s palsy til the video of him not being able to blink went viral. People creating there on fan fiction

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

First year tobi or Ben isn’t on the sixers for 5 years. Outside harden n now maxey Joel never had a pg to run a functional pick and roll with. Which has made him even more dominant. Think they reach the ECF this year or next year. Sixers still have wiggle room to make another move also.

[@hacknslashn5903]

Most skilled aka foul hunting

[@jnova707]

I hope Maxey wakes up at some point this season and demands to be traded he deserves to be a with a co-star that actually shows up when it matters.

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Dramatic. He saw the Sixers slip to the play in with out Joel. Joel just averaged like 34 vs the Knicks on 1 leg and Bell’s palsy lol

[@kaysheye7784]

LOL as if Maxey and Embiid weren't trading 50 pieces in the Knicks series. Embiid showed up Game 6, where was Maxey?

[@hirelion7157]

People forget the most important skill in basketball, which is IQ, Joel is certainly a top player in the nba, but his decisions on the court, especially in key moments, are what can't put him ahead of Lebron, Jokic, Luka, SGA. Of course he has a problem with injuries, but he also has them in the regular season, so he scores 35, but as soon as the playoffs start, his percentages drop significantly. And in many playoff series that he lost, he was a huge favorite. IQ is the most important skill and if he could improve it at least a little, Philadelphia could win the title, but to be honest, I don't believe that will happen. Many basketball players can score, but only the best of them can understand the game, which makes them legends of the sport.

[@benjamingates7034]

IS THAT WEED ON STEPHEN A. SMITH’S SHIRT??😂

[@deojoe1794]

When will sports franchises in the 2020 era stop paying INSANELY amounts of money to star players who underperform, injury prone, or make excuses

[@bossmancaleb6041]

Why the wizards caught a stray from Stephen A like that 😂😂😂

[@pleasedonttemptme5963]

Lololololol look let’s not say what we’re thinking all at once.. 😂 I’ll go first - Horrific deal! 😂

[@kaysheye7784]

worse players have received more, they'll be aight

[@pleasedonttemptme5963]

@@kaysheye7784No they won’t! 😂 Worse players also don’t get hurt nearly as much as Embiid every year.. Name one player who is worse that got a $200 mil extension this year (Before you say Jamal Murray uh he’s a champion, I’m taking him before Embiid on any team). Now, go on..

[@315giants]

lol s.a.s said jokic ain’t deserve his extension cuz he ain’t “box office” but Joel def “deserves” it …stop it lol

[@tomzee70]

Can you get past round 2 he's currently the worst MVP ever.

[@duhduhduhdiesel1436]

that would be D rose or Steve Nash but carry on lol

[@Slam-e5w]

@@duhduhduhdiesel1436nah them two both better that Westbrook

[@duhduhduhdiesel1436]

@@Slam-e5w statistically, no, not even close. Playoff success, maybe, but both had far better teams

[@fcc950]

Molly is xaned tf out sheesh

[@Derrick4Davidson]

Congrats Joel

[@alex4863]

Embiid is literally taller Kawhi without a chip, but people be raving for this money pit? I would give my entire life savings to get SAS to see the contradiction when it comes to Embiid and Kawhi.

[@JudeGill-tl8po]

No Milwaukee is hilarious. Watch these clowns change their tunes come December.

[@KrishFizix]

Not 193 million $.. 120-150 mil$

[@rnarine89]

Embiid never back up his trash talk Dood gets bounced year after year 😂😂

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

He hasn’t talked trash in years lmao you stuck the first version of Joel

[@rnarine89]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 dood pulled down Mitchell Robinson in the playoffs, talked trash to the Knick fans and Brunson every time he came in the lane and still got packed up. Yea Embiid ain’t winning anything and the 6ers will always be losers

[@inquizative44]

Embiid just needed a quality back up, now he has it with Drummond. That will give him a break when he needs it. We all watched Embiid beat Boston by himself.😮

[@lesliewarren5394]

Everybody Screaming For That's My Michelle "Sharpe" But Otherwise Let's Hate On Embiid 🤣🤣🤣

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Nah not a hater. Good on Joel. Hes a top 10 player.

[@This_World_Aint_For_The_Weak]

Always injuries excuses for Embiid. Brunson beat this for God's sake. Had a chance to beat the Celtics and STILL failed. When are they going hold this dude accountable? Every yr. Hold on bro. You guys don't give Giannis injuries excuses. All I hear is the Heat beat the Bucks. Was Giannis even healthy? The Pacers beat the Bucks. Giannis didn't even play. Giannis got injured in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. Y'all have anything to say?

[@tyresemaxeyfan1726]

U mad 🤡 😭

[@SilentJay8]

He scored FIFTY against the Knicks on one leg with facial paralysis.

[@JermaineSmith-d9z]

You Can't Hold Him Accountable For Being Injured . His Skill is No Problem .

[@jayblake5770]

it’s not an excuse wen the man is ACTUALLY hurt dummy 😂

[@ItzzShazey]

Brunson barely beat an injured Embiid and on top of that Maxey was the only other one that did anything in the series (minus oubre). Brunson, hart, divenchenzo, Robinson, and Ihart barely won against 2 dudes doing all the work. Tobias Harris was basically helping the Knicks with how bad he was playing. Yall couldn’t even beat the pacers without your best player and they didn’t have haliburton half the series 💀

[@kaysheye7784]

what city is this that they're booing Embiid lol?

[@daveczarnik6017]

That’s my Michelle

[@Joe-it9sy]

192 millions just to lose the Celtics every year 😂

[@CraigCharley]

Appraisal of human trafficking

[@jovantavares4598]

The 76ers are depending on 2 players that can’t stay on the floor! The party is in MSG this year! Miracle on 34th street!

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Y’all lost to the pacers lmao

[@jovantavares4598]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 who’s future is brighter? Knicks or 76ers?……you guys are stuck with no flexibility for the next 3 years

[@jovantavares4598]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 and on top of that…we are gonna take over your arena again and again and again!

[@noemamba9590]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 and yall lost to the knicks missing players and rushing players back if joel didnt shoot 25 ft one game knicks would have won in 5

[@noemamba9590]

@@jovantavares4598 Nova knicks playing in philly is a home game for them

[@alexanderkoch2824]

So...they are both going to ignore the fact that he has never made it past the second round of the playoffs?

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

If he 2 years ago what food dies that do them now. Whole new team that doesn’t have a Ben or tobi in 5 years.

[@noneofyourbusiness8349]

Says kawhi always injured and never talks about embiid. Kawhi got a championship and embiid don't. Get this man off TV now.

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Cuz Leonard wasn’t showing up to work lol you’re conflated 2 different points he’s been making

[@srinivassuresh466]

How can you say he deserves the money. No way in hell you could give him the full max with his injury history and playoff performances, man cannot finish a season, i hope they atleast had some injury gurantees otherwise that contract is gonna look really bad in a couple of years.

[@kohsmoger1567]

It probably has injury clause

[@gregpollard7158]

They had to Pay Embiid!!! However, I think this may be Embiid’s last Big Contract and possibly last NBA Contract bcuz of Injuries. Philly will be in a Rebuild around Maxey when Embiid leaves.

[@dreamcage1801]

Maxey would be the man in Philly and leave eventually like Barkley did in ‘92

[@noemamba9590]

Jokic does everything better than joel except defense but joker actually plays embiid dont even play against joker joker plays tougher competition as well

[@JasonJohn-fo3ii]

Come on the dude. Plays. Like a. Monster. Picture. If Joel really stay healthy he will win. Most points. MVP. And. A championship. For real. Go 76ers.

[@terrance_35]

Joel Embiid signs up 3 years $192.9M 2028-2029 seasons ‼️😗👍🏿👍🏿

[@CraigCharley]

The NBA is buying human rights

[@leetraviusmckay314]

"everybody need to calm down" 😂

[@MarkColeman121587]

I don’t agree with Shannon. I believe if Joel was healthy the Knicks still could have beat them. The Knicks had a full team without multiple players in the lineup. Philly only had Maxey and Emiid no one else. I still see Boston, NYK, and the Bucks over Philly. I just don’t trust PG and Emiid to be healthy come post season

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

And Sixers were giving them problems. Joel healthy that series is over in 5-6.

[@MarkColeman121587]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 I doubt that because in game 6 I believe OG shut Joel down. He was scoreless. Was taken completely out of the game. The did nothing. So they only were able to rely on Maxey. Plus let’s not forget Randle was injured, and Emiid injured Mitch on purpose. Philly still would have went home. I don’t think they would’ve have won.

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

⁠@@MarkColeman121587 he didn’t injure him in purpose. Now you’re creating narratives. Joel already missed most the season from someone landing on him. And Randle is cheeks in the playoffs like tobi was. Settles for jumpers. The more the ball is out of Brunsons hand the better it is for the opposing teams.

[@damufornia1e11]

Joel Embiid deserves to be a LOS ANGELES LAKERS😎

[@inquizative44]

No, he deserves to be 76er!

[@HurleyGonzalez]

He deserves to be in Cameroon.

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

@@HurleyGonzalez 🤔 he deserves to do what he wants.

[@ryanp6197]

man averages 30 a year and somehow overrated.

[@varietyvids2062]

Is great to have Stephen A Smith back and have Shannon and Molly as well.

[@chrisjacobs9101]

So when do results factor into these contracts because he hasn’t won anything in almost 11 seasons at least iverson went to the finals this guy can’t get past the 2nd round

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

So 1 run would change everything for Joel?

[@jeweltyler5827]

You are going to lose Stephen a Joel embiid is a regular season pony he never shows up and playoff games... I need to see some postseason wins before I can go saying he's better than joker...

[@AquariusLeviathanProphecy]

all this to choke in big games lol goooo ny Knicks

[@maxhfilms]

SAY WHAT U WANT IT DONT MATTER KEEP THE HATE COMIN

[@DaFactsNoNonsense1713]

will you feel this way, when PHI keeps the "L's" coming too? Curious

[@maxhfilms]

@@DaFactsNoNonsense1713 shoulda kept that one in your head

[@DaFactsNoNonsense1713]

@@maxhfilms you like your own posts 😆😅🤣😂😭🤡

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

​@@DaFactsNoNonsense1713just like the Lakers keep losing

[@DaFactsNoNonsense1713]

@@TashaOneal-l8h no one cares about the LAL except for the media, so miss me with that

[@DaFactsNoNonsense1713]

NO, he doesn't SAS!! Joel deserves that money, as much as Ben Simmons, deserved getting his money! PHI the biggest joke in the NBA, this won't change that reality, anytime soon

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Joel actually worked to be a top 10 player. Ben came in solid did no work and is barely hanging in the league now. Not comparing. No joel no playoffs even with maxey.

[@DaFactsNoNonsense1713]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76 He's not a "Top 10" player, he doesn't even play enough games to be that at all + he's injured more than he's healthy + his team SUCKS in the playoffs! HOW can you say this when EVERY other "superstar/star" player plays better + they WIN!? Y'all gotta stop rewarding being mediocre

[@kohsmoger1567]

@@DaFactsNoNonsense1713Your saying a league mvp in his prime who lead the league in scoring twice isn’t top ten!? 🤡

[@MG-bv3vu]

Are these guys brain dead? We arent talking about skill.........if u are injured u cant help your team win.

[@kohsmoger1567]

So why is Kawhi worth the money he was paid. Joel stayed healthy enough to win mvp

[@italyandisraelshow7041]

But why because he stuck it out and managed to stay unhealthy in the playoffs and the playoffs only. He ain't worth it too me

[@Other_Robots]

This contract gotta make embiid the most overrated player in the nba right? Dude is getting paid $64M a year and hasn’t even made the ECF, at least with jaylen brown he has a ring and finals mvp trophy to back it up. Embiid can’t be a second round exit again this year or miss a ton of games, if he does he deserves all the criticism he gets

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

Overrated just like lbj

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

If he gets to the ECF and lose he’ll still get trashed

[@Other_Robots]

@@SPACEKNOCKERZ76yeah for $64M a year people expect an actual ring and they probably should

[@Other_Robots]

@@TashaOneal-l8hi mean lebron has 4 rings and is the all time leading scorer, i don’t really know what else you want from the dude. Even if he cured cancer and secured peace in the middle east you’d probably still call him overrated😂

[@Anuj-ch7iy]

He is a playoff choker... Doesnt have leadership qualities

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Ask maxey about that. Joel was the first guy to call him a franchise player.

[@epickillacam]

He literally almost beat the Knicks single-handedly by himself

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Word. Lol

[@kobefonz]

If he can only stay healthy, Embiid is easily the best big man in the league.

[@user-ic5ku2jk6j]

I still feel like PG shoulda went to the Knicks.

[@charlesdebany2091]

Uhhh thanks but no thanks. We are much happier with OG-and truth be told, Morey would rather have OG too.

[@user-ic5ku2jk6j]

@@charlesdebany2091 who said OG had to leave? And face it, Brunson and Randle aint takin yall to the promise land. PG isnt real that guy either but yall would have a better shot

[@kaysheye7784]

@@charlesdebany2091 lol PG and OG both injury prone, let's see who lasts longer, at least OG has health on his side but PG is still the better player

[@kaysheye7784]

@@user-ic5ku2jk6j PG doesn't need to be "that guy", he's playing behind 2 superior players

[@stephensmith2736]

Trump2024

[@1998srikrishna]

Flop Embiid 🤡 Can't get past the second round 🤣🤣🤣