Charles Barkley talks Sixers fans and Joel Embiid's Olympic performance

Philadelphia 76ers legend Charles Barkley has seen it all. The Hall of Famer is one of the greatest rebounders of all time and was an 11-time All-Star. He also won the Most Valuable Player award in 1993 as a member of the Phoenix Suns.

Barkley is one of the all-time greatest players in NBA history and is respected for what he has been able to do on the court. While he is now primarily known for his work on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” the legendary center knows what he’s talking about when it comes to basketball.

Barkley joined Sixers star Paul George on “Podcast P with Paul George” and talked about Sixers fans and Joel Embiid’s Olympic career:

Barkley’s advice to George about Sixers fans

I’ll tell you this. I know you played in Indiana and they have a great fan base, but New York, Philadelphia and Boston are different animals. They love you. They love you, but they can turn to hate you very quickly, but if you give 110%, they’ll love you and they’ll want this team to win so badly.

Barkley on Philadelphia’s title chances and Embiid’s Olympic run

You have to give the Sixers credit for saving that cap space to sign you, and then all the other additions to go off the bench, because they’re going for it. They have a little window of opportunity now. I hope this Olympic experience is an awakening for Joel. He hasn’t played well, and I hope he thinks, “Hey, I need to get in better shape.” Because I, personally, think that’s one of the reasons he’s always injured. I don’t think he’s in good shape, but I think the way he’s played — which is not good during the Olympics — should be a wake-up call for him. Like, “You know what? I need to get in better shape. I need to get healthy because if we don’t win the championship or go deep in the playoffs, it’s going to be my fault.” And he’s been — he keeps getting injured, and like I said, he’s got to take some responsibility for that. “Bringing you in, (Tyrese) Maxey’s a crack player, bringing in all those other guys… If Joel doesn’t do his thing, the Sixers aren’t going to win, and like I say, he hasn’t played well in these Olympics at all. I hope somebody can talk to him and say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get in better shape, because with the way you play in the NBA, when we’re just getting up and down the court, hitting inside, first of all, you can’t win that consistently in the NBA nowadays, but also, you’ve got to be a little embarrassed about the way you played in the Olympics. ‘

Barkley on how these Olympics can help Embiid

I hope it’s a good learning experience from him, first of all from a physical standpoint, but also like, ‘Hey, you know what?’ Because it’s going to make his life a lot easier. Because I can really sympathize with him, because I played on all those (censored) Sixers teams, they would make me run up and down the floor. He got the ball every time I ran down the court. I was making my 30 a night, but it was the hardest damn 30 in the world and when they traded me to Phoenix, they gave me Dan Majerle and Kevin Johnson. I was like, ‘Damn, this is the easiest 26 I’ve ever made in my life’ because I don’t have to score every time I run down the court. I played better defense. My rebounding was good again, because I was like, man, it’s a lot of fun to play with great players. It’s a lot, and it’s a lot easier, and I hope, like I said, it’s a great learning experience for him.