Former NBA All-Star believes Joel Embiid is not fully dedicated to working hard

Over the years, Philadelphia 76ers franchise player Joel Embiid has had a reputation for being one of the league's superstars. However, the problem with Embiid is that he can't stay healthy for an extended period. By the time the Playoffs roll around, he is dealing with injuries that limit his performance, which is why he has never gotten past the second round.

This led to some people like Max Kellerman to say that Embiid does not work hard behind the scenes because of how injury-prone he is. It seems this is a popular sentiment because former All-Star guard Jeff Teague also agrees with believing that Embiid is not the hardest-working player.

Jeff Teague believes Joel Embiid is not the hardest worker

When it comes to pure talent, it is hard to count Embiid out. He is one of the most talented players in modern NBA history, and that is shown with how well he plays almost every time he is on the court. He has plenty of accolades to back him up, including the regular season MVP award.

Unfortunately, it will always come down to his injury struggles. Through the years, people have gotten familiar with Embiid playing fewer minutes than what he is supposed to play as a superstar player. Unfortunately, minutes restrictions and sitting out games are a regular occurrence for Embiid.

MORE: Nick Nurse shares some insightful updates about Joel Embiid's offseason

For some people, hard work plays a role in recovering from injuries. That is why Kellerman spoke about how Embiid does not have an elite work ethic because he keeps getting injured. He believes that if Embiid were a harder worker, the 76ers would enjoy more success with a healthy superstar. To some extent, Teague believes in the same sentiment.

"You can tell by his health, he’s probably not the most dedicated person to the craft. I can see that. Kevin Durant is probably one of the more dedicated players to basketball. See how he recovered from his injury and still be playing at a high level," Teague said about Embiid on Club 520.

"Joel Embiid is one of the most talented players ever, but maybe he doesn’t have the same work ethic. I think he works hard. I know how hard it is to be really good at basketball for him to be at the top at one point in time and be the MVP of the league."

Embiid is ready to succeed, especially with this new team. However, the franchise's success will continue to hinge on his health. If he can manage to stay healthy, the 76ers could be a championship team. In the meantime, he has no choice but to work hard and prove doubters like Kellerman and Teague wrong.

More NBA news: 

• LeBron James is projected to have career-low averages in the 2026-27 season
• V.J. Edgecombe continues to stand out in FIBA World Cup qualifiers
• Jason Kidd believes LeBron James joining the 76ers makes them contenders
• Jaylen Brown and his new 76ers teammates are hard at work during the summer
• Kevin Durant breaks down why LeBron James is a scary addition to the 76ers