Shaq tears into 76ers star Joel Embiid, offers warning about championship hopes

Embiid was also suspended three games for an incident with a newspaper columnist.

He was already ruled out of Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Shaquille O'Neal levied heavy criticism at Embiid at halftime Tuesday.

"In New York, it's a tough team to play. But this was the fear I had for Joel Embiid," the Basketball Hall of Famer said. "You announce arrogantly, 'I'm not playing back-to-backs. I'm not injured, but I'm sore. I'll come back when I want to come back.'

"Now, when you say things like that, you're supposed to come back with extra energy. Zero-for-three? I would have been 0-for-15. But you know what y'all would have said. 'Hey, Shaq's not playing well, but he's playing aggressive.'

"The plan that they are having, it's not working. And not only that, I say this respectfully. Joel Embiid will never win a championship until he gets his mind and his attitude right."

Since then, Embiid hadn't played until Tuesday night.