Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has come under fire after declaring before the start of the season that he does not intend to play back-to-back games this season because he wants to preserve his body and give it a better chance of being 100% healthy come playoff time.

The 2023 NBA MVP has received negative reactions since he said that, and the criticisms continue with All the Smoke's Stephen Jackson being the latest to call out 'The Process' for his controversial statement.

"We wanted to play every night because we loved the game first," said Stak on 'The Big Podcast'. "We wanted to compete first. I couldn't predict how much money I was going to make cuz I didn't come in as one of the top draft picks. But I knew once I got in, I had the chance to make it in so every night, I was trying to play 82 games."

Jackson had to fight for every penny earned

Stak was the 42nd overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft. After playing overseas to start his pro career, his first NBA contract with the New Jersey Nets during the 2000-01 season was a mere $316,969.

So, aside from his love for the game and penchant for competition, he was driven by earning power and had to fight for every dollar he made during his NBA career, which is why playing every game mattered to him. But with the vast money today's stars are making, he thinks the players' mindset has changed.

"There's no way I would come into the season saying I'm not playing 82 games this year," added Jackson. "That just wasn't our train of thought. We came in thinking we was going to do everything we could this whole season to win. That's the attitude going into it. If you're going to the season with that attitude already, you're doomed."

KG also said Embiid must aim for 82 games

Like Stack, Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett wasn't happy with Embiid's plan. According to 'KG', if Embiid wanted to rest, he should've rested during the summer instead of playing for the U.S. Team in the Paris Olympics.

"82 games, man, this is what the fu*** job calls for," said Garnett. "You're not practicing. You're not even playing a whole fuc****; you don't play in the summer. I can see him, you playing in the summer, you on the playground, you went to the Olympics, then it's training camp, y'all do 30 days of fuc**** tour days. Okay, that's when you get rest. Man, I don't wanna hear that sh**. I don't wanna hear none of that sh**. Mother fuck*** can sit out back-to-backs?"

Stak and 'KG' can criticize Joel all they want, but after missing the team's season opener, there is no 82-game season for discussion anymore. He is expected to miss at least 15 more games, the back-to-backs, so the most we'll see Embiid play will be 66 regular-season games. JoJo recently signed a three-year $193 million extension with the Sixers, so it won't be a surprise to see him take his time.

Related: "This dude has been hurt over every imaginable injury" - SAS defends Joel Embiid for missing the opening week due to injury