PHILADELPHIA–The MVP race in the NBA is again coming down to Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Embiid has finished as the runner-up to Jokic in both the 2021 and 2022 MVP races and it is once again coming down to both big men.
Embiid is having an incredible season as he is leading the league in scoring while Jokic is averaging a triple-double for the Nuggets, the No. 1 seed in the West. Both players are absolutely worthy candidates for the MVP award and are scintillating to watch on an every night basis.
Throw in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Jayson Tatum who have also been in the MVP conversation, and there are just so many worthy players for the award.
However, there seems to just be so much toxicity around the debate of the award. Everybody seems to have to tear down one player to boost up another and coach Doc Rivers is tired of it.
“I thought he (Embiid) was the MVP last year, but I wanna make a point,” Rivers began. “Can we stop trying to put people down? We should be celebrating our guys in the league. Giannis, Jayson Tatum, Joker, all of them are great. We don’t need to push one down to elevate the other guy. They all are completely different players. They are.”
Rivers is obviously going to go for Embiid to win the award. At this point, the big fella deserves it considering the incredible season and the run he is on, but if Jokic were to win it, it shouldn’t be viewed as this complete travesty as some are trying to make it.
“Joel, in my opinion, is the best of that, and I don’t think anyone needs me to campaign for him,” Rivers continued. “I think the proof is in the pudding. Having said that, I respect all of them. I don’t know what’s going on lately, it just seems like to validate one, you have to push down the other guy. No, you don’t. They’re all great.”
The point is, there is a lot of talent in this league. There are so many amazing players and while only one guy can win the award, it shouldn’t take away from how talented the other players are.
“There’s nothing wrong with saying that, and in my opinion, Joel is the best of that group,” Rivers finished. “That’s not putting down anyone. We need to stop this stuff that’s going on right now.”
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