Sixers center Joel Embiid believes he should be the favorite in this year’s Most Valuable Player race, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Embiid, who finished second in last year’s voting, has the stats to back up his claim. He’s leading the NBA in scoring at 29.6 points per game while pulling down 11.2 rebounds and dishing out a career-best 4.5 assists per night. He has Philadelphia near the top of the Eastern Conference at 35-23, despite the season-long distractions caused by the absence of Ben Simmons before he was traded last week.
“I don’t want to push for the whole thing, but the way I’ve been playing speaks for itself,” Embiid said. “Especially with everything we went through, the drama this whole year, obviously missing a big piece and then everything that happened to our team and the way our team is set up.
“So I knew had to take my game to another level whether it was offensively, defensively or playmaking and I’ve got great teammates that are coming in every single day and giving their all on the floor. But it always goes back to winning. As long as we win I’ll be at that level and have a chance to win it all and win the MVP. But to answer your question, the play speaks for itself. Every single night that’s what I’ve been doing offensively and defensively and I don’t plan on stopping.”
Embiid finished slightly ahead of reigning MVP Nikola Jokic in an ESPN straw poll of MVP voters conducted over the past week. Embiid may be able to expand his game after the All-Star break when he teams up with former MVP James Harden, who was acquired from the Nets in the Simmons trade. If they can lead Philadelphia to the top spot in the East, Embiid’s case for MVP honors will get even stronger.
Embiid also told reporters that he believes he can still reach another level because of improved conditioning over the last two seasons.
“That level is the last two years I really worked on my body and the results are showing,” he said. “I still feel like I’m not there. I’m not close to where I want to be when it comes to my body, so I feel like once I get to that level, a lot of times, most of the time, I play I’m 100 percent, but to be asked to do everything offensively and defensively it takes a toll, it’s hard.
“There’s not a lot of guys that can do that in the league, so I really believe once I get to that level … I don’t get a lot of respect when it comes to my defense. So, I want to be able to be this great offensive player and I already think defensively I’m up there but I really want to earn that respect when it comes to defense, but it takes a lot. It takes your body to be in the best shape possible and I think that’s where I got to get to.”
It’s still Jokic for me.
He’s better statistically, his advanced stats are historic.
Joel is an insanely good player but Jokic has been much more consistent and has the Nuggets in contention with Will Barton as the next best player.
I think Embiid will get it though, recency bias and all and he’ll be deserving.
That Jokic doesn’t really care and isn’t lobbying for himself says a lot. Embiid is lobbying and whining about Simmons while saying ‘my play speaks for itself’. Haha – Jokic had two starters and a key bench reserve go down with season ending injuries.
He never “whined” about Simmons. He took the high road and encouraged the man to came back to the team, assuring Simmons that he would be welcomed.
He’s whining in the quote in this article! All he’s gone through (with the Simmons thing) this season etc. The whole league has been affected by covid and injuries.
I like Joel. He’s so competitive.
what Embiid should have won it last year only reason Jokic won it was because of perfect attendance because you played every game if Embiid didn’t miss games he would of won it, alot of voters said that was the main reason Jokic won, but this year they already voted for Embiid his impact with this team and what he’s been doing in the mins he’s been playing is crazy, Jokic be playing the whole game if his team up 20 or down 20 they be padding his stats the MVP is Embiid already
Nope. He doesn’t pad stats at all. He’s out if they’re up or down big in the fourth.
You’ve clearly not watched him play
if you’re up or down 20+ in the 4th quarter and the game is outta hand why are you still in the game that man damn near play every min for them to make his stats & +/- look better stop it, I watch games you clearly don’t watch other teams play
Jojo dominates on D friend where is your joker. Does this joker face constant 3 on D partner, I think not. Embid is the most dominant and best in the NBA.
Jokic’ defense is very good. Look at the stats.
Jokic is double and triple teamed all the time.
There’s no need to trash either player. We can have nuanced conversations about each player’s case.
My argument is Jokic is better statistically and has a bigger effect on his team’s success than Joel.
Aaron Gordon?
Are you saying Gordon is the same as Murray or even Barton? Not to mention Harris or Maxey? Gordon can win MVP for someone?
Jokic is the one with little help.
Peewee says Embiid should win just because he has shown up for as more games than usual?? Yeah just give it to him.
I wish the NBA kept games missed like they do games played. Embiid has missed 12 so far this year, perhaps his most consistent. Jokic, 6. Embiid is no ironman.
Showing up is called doing your job, not padding your stats.
Embiid fans make Simmons look sane for wanting out.
Jojo is a thousand times better defensively.
How many game winning blocks does he have this season?
Your talking about one specific action (a block) in one specific time (the end of the game). Joel plays defence every minute he’s on the floor and to a very good level. Jokic is so weak defensive. He’s got the size and mass but not the IQ, aggression or athleticism.
Basketball is played at two ends of the floor
Ask Markieff abput aggressiveness. And IQ is shown by not getting out of position or fouling on a doomed defensive possession.
However Embiid does have the ad on defense, since he is more willing to move forward to engage an opponent, making the “area of intimidation” larger… Or, about anywhere.
An Embiid-Jokic back n forth tendency on MVP awards would be appropriate IMO. Derozan will run out of vengence eventually, and hard-to-fit Doncic seems to have hit a wall. (Dallas is already advertising the trading value of Dinwiddie, like they plan to,move him along… And he could be of help, in theory.)
Dominant player. Love his attitude.
After the All-Star break the players kick it up a notch; then 3 or 4 more when the real season starts – the playoffs.
The media aren’t looking there because they thrive on soap operas. But Mr. Embiid may well be the player that fans should be watching the rest of the year….if he remains healthy.
It’s hard to argue against the metrics. Joker leads the NBA in VORP, BPM, and WS. That’s the true determining factors for the MVP when you look at past winners, add them up you get the MVP 9/10 times. Embiid may get that popularity vote this year tho. But Joker deserves it.
Thank you!
I’m not particularly a Denver fan but Jokic is just on another level, the way he affects the game.
If MVP means what it stands for Jokic is that all day long. Joel probably beats him in a game of 1v1 but that’s not what the award is.
Not taking anything away from Embiid because he is a beast but Jokic is the best center in the league if not the best player overall.
Embiid should do less talking and more playing. Noise don’t win awards.
I agree. Joel seems more interested in attention than the sport. You can tell for Jokic it’s basketball over everything. With Embiid it’s the external crap. That’s why even with Harden he’ll never be a champion or MVP.
Philly needs a star with popularity, bring the bright lights, stop the media from only talking about LA, Boston, NY.
he’s definitely been doing more playing and less talking he was asked a question and answered it, he’s just keeping it real
Mr Embiid, you right your play speaks for itself… & right now it says you are the 3rd best player in the league, right?
1/Jokic
2/Giannis
3/Embiid
4/LBJ
5/Luka
Truth be said Embiid could have won it last year & this year, if it wasn’t because Jokic is playing the best game we have ever seen, as simple as!
In those years were Curry, Westbrook or Harden won it, Embiid would be smashing it, as he is playing light years better than they did, but… sadly Jokic is playing light years better than him, so no, as much as I am a huge fan of Embiid, Jokic is better & the MVP must be in his pocket by now!
1. Embiid
2. Jokic
3. Curry
4. Giannas
Personally it’s between these 4 and yes you can cry out for DeRozan, LBJ, Ja, Doncic etc but they aren’t on the same level as these 4. Curry started the season so hot and that mayn’t be forgotten. Plus he’s leading his team without Green and Klay coming back under a minutes restriction and has one of the best records in the league.
I would not mind seeing a Jokic-Embiid back n forth MVP war, but Derozan has been this year’s Mr. New Big News, good for #3 MVP. Also I like how he’s not getting defined by clutch issues in Toronto.
I don’t think he’s been as great at Curry was at the start of the season. And even know he has a Klay coming back on a restriction and Draymond is out. GSW hasn’t slowed down and they still have one of the best records in the league.
DeRozan has been great but you take him away from the bulls I still think they make the playoffs. Whereas we have seen how bad GSW was without Curry.
I’d also have Giannas over DeRozan, he just does so much for his team and plays top tier defence too. Bucks don’t win if has an off game and he’s not ready had an off game.
DeRozan is in the chat for 5th along with LBJ, Doncic Ja KD etc
He’s gonna lose votes because of having Harden on his team now. His numbers will come down
I think Embiid wins it, hard to be a repeat MVP but it also depends on where Nuggets will finish the year if they finish 6th and the Sixers finish 1st in the standing and Embiid numbers don’t fall but his efficiency goes up because he sees less double and triple teams with Harden on the team. Plus if you look at the record this year when he’s playing they are 31-15 vs 4-8 without him. It also helps Embiid that he’ll get enough Nationally televised games where more people will see him play everyday.