WATCH: VJ Edgecombe inadvertently puts Shaq in his place, says the Sixers will win a chip with a healthy Joel Embiid

VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey joined the the NBA’s new NBA on ESPN broadcast and covered all types of topics. Clips are everywhere on social media but this one in particular caught my attention, along with the quote tweet.

VJ Edgecombe defends Joel Embiid right in front of known hater Shaq:

I love how VJ defended Embiid in front of Shaq after all that hate, then said “we’re winning the chip, I don’t care what anyone says” https://t.co/N559fId2c4

— T (@igwt097) October 30, 2025

“With big fella (Embiid) back there, I think we’re gonna win the chip.”

That’s exactly the kind of energy this team’s been missing.

Tyrese Maxey’s playing like a superstar, Embiid’s rounding into form, and Edgecombe’s acting like he’s been here for years. The chemistry’s clicking early, and the belief is clearly spreading through the locker room.

VJ Edgecombe’s Apartment Is Proof the Sixers’ Young Star Is Built for Greatness

If you’re a Sixers fan, you have to love hearing that from a 19-year-old rookie who just played 40 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back and still had the guts to talk championships. You can’t teach that kind of mentality.

Part of me wants to believe that VJ Edgecombe purposely defended Joel Embiid’s honor right in front of Shaq.

Edgecombe is a kid that grew up in the age of the internet and it’s hard to miss all the jealous, embarrassing, bullshit that Shaq says about Joel Embiid.

It’s literally been happening for years at this point.

VJ Edgecombe says 76ers are going to win it all with Embiid back at full strength

Either way, the narrative around Joel Embiid has gotten exhausting.

Every year it’s the same recycled garbage.

You have members of the national media and a ton of podcast hosts, former players, and social media in general recycling the same bullshit, saying Embiid is “he’s soft,” “he’s not dominant enough,” “he doesn’t play like a real center.” It’s tired. It’s especially ridiculous coming from someone like Shaquille O’Neal, who should know better

Shaq says Joel Embiid is no longer a top big, calling him “soft”

Shaq says Joel Embiid is no longer a top big, calling him “soft,” and claiming he’s no longer close to Nikola Jokic’s level 😳

(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/6Iz7dS6SxU) pic.twitter.com/Z2KIdcwuGA

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 22, 2025

Shaq loves to push this idea that Embiid’s game somehow disqualifies him from being a “true big man,” as if the modern NBA still revolves around post-ups and drop-steps.

It does not. Joel Embiid’s ability to hurt defenses from every spot on the floor. Pick your poison. Mid-range, three-point line, pick-and-roll, face-up, post-up, you name it.

It’s exactly why he’s special. Calling that soft, knowing Joel Embiid’s injury history, isn’t analysis in any sense of the word. It’s lazy and should discredit anyone, including Shaq, who dares to push that narratives.

We are slowly reaching the point where talking shit on Joel Embiid is laughable, given what he’s been through to still be playing basketball. It’s turning into nothing more than low-effort punditry from people who pretend to know basketball and for Shaq as someone who’s supposed to be one of the best basketball minds on TV

VJ Edgecombe makes history, Maxey drops 40, as the Sixers stun the Celtics on Opening Night

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Oh… and one more thing.

Whole lotta chatter in the comment section this week questioning the “originality” of my writing. Lets talk about that.

First, you can all fuck off.

Second, there’s no writer that could even come close to what I do. In fact, I pretty much set the standard here at The Liberty Line while quite literally bulldozing every other “blog” in the space in a matter of months.

No other websites even exist at this point and for the ones that do, none of them, match our numbers. Started this shit in 2020 when there weren’t even sports being played due to COVID-19. I’m #StillHere and honestly when I took around, there’s not many others that are next or above me anymore. Go figure.

Third, instead of crying about it and falling hook, line, and sinker into “internet drama” just do better. If you can’t, well… I guess that proves my point.