Charles Barkley rips Joel Embiid for missing games after massive contract extension

Charles Barkley tore up Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid Thursday night as the NBA launched an investigation into his participation in games.

Embiid didn’t play in the preseason because of concerns about his knee and didn’t play in the team’s first game against him. Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN earlier this month that he would try to keep Embiid and Paul George from playing the majority of back-to-back nights.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, #21, poses for a photo during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Practice Complex in Camden, New Jersey on September 30, 2024. (Bill Streicher-Images)

The whole situation surrounding Embiid seemed to have sparked the investigation, ESPN reported.

Barkley called out Embiid during TNT’s NBA coverage.

“Man, I have no idea what the Sixers are doing. I don’t think it’s right,” Barkley said. “And I want to get this number right, and it’s crazy, and bless the baby, number 1; he just sang for three years, $193 million. Three years, $193 million – to play basketball. We are not steel workers, we are not nurses.

KENNY ‘THE JET’ SMITH: ‘ANYONE WHO CRITICIZES HIM’ BRONNY JAMES ‘JUST DON’T KNOW BASKETBALL’

Charles Barkley looks on before the 2023 NBA Finals game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 7, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images)

“Just like people who had real jobs, who have to work 40-50 hours a week. We play basketball, four days a week at most. Most of the time, three days a week. It has the most good support around the league in (Andre Drummond) If he said, “I’ll play 25 minutes the second night of a back-to-back game or Drummond.”

“But to come out and say that up front was stupid of the Sixers, period.”

Injuries have affected Embiid throughout NBA career. He also revealed Bell’s paralysis diagnosis during the playoff series against the New York Knicks last season.

United States center Joel Embiid, #11, celebrates with his gold medal after his game against France in the men’s basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Accor Arena in Paris on August 10, 2024. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

However, he played in the Paris Olympics for Team USA and was instrumental in the team’s gold medal.

Watch Fox News Digital sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.