The biggest debate toward the end of the 2021-22 season is who deserves to win MVP?
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has put together an incredible season averaging 30.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 4.2 rebounds. He has kept the Sixers in contention despite the adversity they have faced as a team.
Embiid will certainly have competition for the award. Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, the reigning league MVP, has done some good work to keep the Nuggets in it. Giannis Antetokounmpo has done wondrous things for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Sixers legend Julius Erving hopped on “The Rich Eisen Show,” and he is picking Jokic over Embiid for the award:
I’m hopeful that Embiid wins it because he does talk about it and it’s something that is one of those carrots out there that he’s reaching for, but I think the most deserving guy is Jokic. He hasn’t missed any games and night in and night out, he’s done better than he did last year. He was MVP last year and when you get better. I don’t think you lose status. Not if it’s a fair fight. I’m going to vote for Embiid, because he’s my guy and Antetokounmpo, who knows how he’s going to finish up, but both Embiid and Antetokounmpo have missed several weeks of play. Jokic has been there every night.
Erving has a fair point about missing games, but Embiid has played 65 games in the 2021-22 season. That is a career-high in games played and he has taken his game to another level to keep the Sixers in contention despite the Ben Simmons saga and everything else thrown at them.
Jokic is averaging 26.8 points, 13.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 72 games. The Nuggets haven’t had Jamal Murray at all this season, and Michael Porter Jr. has missed a majority of the year. However, Embiid has been terrific in a really tough situation. At this point, Embiid is probably the most deserving.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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