The basketball world was robbed of a Joel Embiid vs. Nikola Jokic matchup on Saturday when the Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Denver Nuggets. Embiid was a late scratch shortly before tipoff due to a left knee issue that began bothering him in the loss to Indiana.
Jokic went for 26 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists as the Nuggets defeated the Embiid-less Sixers 111-105. Afterward, the two talented big men met up at halfcourt and they exchanged a conversation. They were all smiles as the two of them have clear admiration for each other.
In his postgame, on-court interview with ESPN, Jokic had a lot of respect and admiration for Embiid:
I just asked him how he is. If you’re a basketball fan or a soccer fan or an NFL fan, the things that he’s doing right now is historic. You need to appreciate it. Whatever you like it or a Denver fan or whatever fan you are, I think you need to appreciate what he’s doing. He is putting in history right now.
Nikola Jokic giving Joel Embiid his flowers pic.twitter.com/aNcM8RZENS
— Oh no he didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 28, 2024
Jokic is correct. There is no reason to really hate on whatever Embiid is doing or not doing and the same goes for Jokic. They’re both at the top of the league regardless of position and have been for the past five years or so. They are both terrific players at this stage of their respective careers.
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