Bob Myers isn’t sweating Joel Embiid’s health history. And he thinks anyone who is should reconsider what the alternative looks like for LeBron James.
The former Golden State Warriors president, now an ESPN analyst, broke his silence on James’ decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the 2026-27 season. Myers doubled down on his take that joining Embiid in Philly was the right call, health risks be damned. Per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Myers made his stance clear.
“When I went on the podcast, that’s what I meant,” Myers said. “You can disagree, anybody can. And you could argue Embiid — and what I would say is sure, there’s always health risks — but I would take the chance of a healthy Embiid over you go somewhere else, other guys can get hurt, too.”
That’s a fair point. The 2025 champion Oklahoma City Thunder learned that lesson the hard way. They lost Jalen Williams before a brutal seven-game series against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Even the best-laid plans collapse when a key guy goes down.
So Myers’ logic is pretty straightforward. Embiid’s knees are a concern. But what’s the alternative? A team with no star power? Another superstar who might get hurt anyway? The 76ers are rolling the dice on Embiid’s health, and Myers thinks that bet is worth making if it gives LeBron a real shot at ring number five.
Rich Paul claps back at Charles Barkley
Meanwhile, James’ agent Rich Paul had some words for Charles Barkley. The Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst criticized LeBron’s move to Philly, calling it another example of James stacking the deck with talented players. Paul wasn’t having it.
Speaking on the Game Over podcast, Paul couldn’t understand why LeBron putting himself in position to compete is somehow a bad thing.
“It’s confusing because what are you supposed to chase? Aluminum cans?” Paul said. “I don’t think he chases anything. I just think you want to put yourself in the best competitive position to have a chance of winning.”
He kept going.
“It’s very confusing when you see players talk about ring chasing. Especially players who don’t have a ring. I just don’t understand how people get up every day and try to nitpick at you for trying to put yourself in the best position.”
Paul didn’t name Barkley directly in that quote, but the timing makes it pretty clear who he’s talking about. Barkley never won a title as a player, which adds some spice to the back-and-forth.
LeBron’s move to the 76ers is the latest chapter in a career full of franchise-shifting decisions. He went back to Cleveland to team up with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, then joined Anthony Davis with the Lakers. Now he’s linking with Embiid and the Sixers on a two-year deal. It’s a different kind of final act than most legends get, but that’s LeBron for you.
Leave a Comment