Rich Paul Addresses Doubts Over Joel Embiid’s Work Ethic
Joel Embiid’s work ethic has once again become a topic of debate ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, but his representative, Rich Paul, has dismissed the concerns and offered a very different assessment of the Philadelphia 76ers star.
The controversy began when NBA analyst Max Kellerman raised questions about Embiid’s training habits during his appearance on the Game Over podcast with Paul. Kellerman referenced information attributed to former NBA player Brian Scalabrine and suggested that Embiid was not among the hardest-working players during Team USA’s 2024 Olympic campaign.
Kellerman also questioned whether Embiid’s approach could become an issue for Philadelphia, particularly now that LeBron James has joined the 76ers.
Rich Paul Rejects the Narrative
Paul, who is also LeBron James’ longtime agent, immediately pushed back on the suggestion.
“No, I’ve heard nothing but great things about Joel this summer,” Paul said. He added that Embiid is reportedly in the best shape he has been in and has remained healthy throughout the offseason.
Paul acknowledged that the type of intense competition described by Kellerman can be common around USA Basketball teams, but he made it clear that he did not believe that assessment applied to Embiid this summer.
Why Embiid’s Work Ethic Is Being Questioned
The latest discussion is closely connected to Embiid’s long history of injuries and limited availability.
During the 2025-26 regular season, Embiid appeared in just 38 of Philadelphia’s 82 games, although he remained highly productive when available. He averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 48.9% from the field.
That injury history has led some analysts to question his conditioning and preparation. However, missing games because of injuries is not, by itself, evidence of poor work ethic.
The original criticism also remains second-hand: Kellerman was relaying what he said he had heard from Scalabrine rather than describing his own observations of Embiid.
The LeBron James Factor
The timing of the debate is particularly interesting because Embiid will now share the 76ers’ locker room with LeBron James.
Philadelphia has assembled a star-heavy core featuring Embiid, James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, creating enormous expectations for the upcoming season. The team is counting on Embiid being healthy and prepared to make the most of that talent.
Paul’s comments therefore carry additional weight. Rather than suggesting Embiid needs to change his approach, he portrayed the center’s current offseason as one of the most encouraging of his career.
Embiid’s Availability Remains the Bigger Question
There is an important distinction between work ethic and availability.
Embiid has consistently produced at an MVP level when healthy, but staying on the court has been the biggest obstacle in recent seasons. Philadelphia can have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA, but its championship ambitions will depend heavily on whether Embiid can remain healthy deep into the postseason.
For now, Rich Paul is rejecting the idea that Embiid is failing to put in the work.
The upcoming season will ultimately provide the strongest evidence. If Embiid enters the campaign healthy and maintains that condition throughout the year, the latest questions about his preparation may quickly become a footnote.