The two best big men in the league are without a doubt Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. The two have combined to win the past three MVPs. Jokic received the honor in 2021 and 2022, and Embiid took it home in 2023.
The two are also among the best players in the league regardless of position. Jokic is coming off a deep playoff run in which he led the Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history. Embiid and the Sixers fell in the second round in a seven-game series with the Boston Celtics.
Former Sixers coach Doc Rivers hopped on “KG Certified” with former Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and he gave his opinion on the Embiid-Jokic debate:
He (Jokic) just does everything. Joel is the best scorer. Like, Joel’s the only guy who can stop Joel from scoring. You can’t stop — he can do everything, but The Joker, man, he just makes everybody better. He runs their whole offense. Just throw him the ball.
In his first season without Rivers, the big fella is averaging 35 points, 11.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Rivers played a big part in Embiid’s development — Embiid admitted as much — but coach Nick Nurse has been able to help unlock his playmaking. That is why he is on track to win his second consecutive MVP award.
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