By Jordan Long
The NBA is nearing the end of the regular season. Most teams have 3 or 4 games left. Some franchises have already clinched playoff spots while others are looking to avoid the play-in tournament. The real race heating up is for MVP. It seems like it is going to come down to Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.
Joel Embiid feels he should be the MVP. He finished second last year behind Jokic for the award. According to ESPN, Embiid said, “If it happens, great. If it doesn’t, I don’t know what I have to do. I’ll feel like they hate me. I feel like the standard for guys in Philly or for me is different than everyone else.” Let’s dive into the numbers and compare Embiid and Jokic.
Embiid is ahead of Jokic in terms of points per game. Embiid averages 30.2 points per game, second in the NBA only to LeBron James. Jokic is also putting the points up but not at the rate of Embiid. He averages 26.8 points per game which is 9th in the NBA. Advatange Embiid in that stat.
When it comes to rebounding that is what separates both of these players. Jokic is second in the league in rebounds, grabbing 13.7 per game, 2nd in the NBA. The only player ahead of him is Rudy Gobert with 14.7 rebounds per game. Embiid is still boxing out and helping his team with 11.6 rebounds per game.
Jokic leads the league in double and triple doubles. Jokic has 64 double doubles and 19 triple doubles. Embiid though has 43 double doubles and 2 triple doubles. Both of them are getting it done by rebounding and getting their teammates involved.
The difference, though, is the supporting cast. For Embiid who plays for Philadelphia, he has another All-Star on his team, James Harden. Harden averages 22 points per game. It also helps they have Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey who can also score. Harris averages 17.5 points per game while Maxey chips in 17.1 points per game. If you take Embiid off of this team, the Philadelphia 76ers are still a playoff team but may not be 48-30.
For Jokic he doesn’t have much of a supporting cast. He has been missing point guard Jamal Murray who has been out the whole year as he recovers from an ACL tear that happened last year. Michael Porter Jr., who the Nuggets were expecting big things from this season, appeared in 9 games before being shut down due to back surgery.
Jokic has needed to be the Nuggets’ best player. Looking at other players on this team, Jokic’s teammates aren’t close to the supporting cast that Embiid has. Aaron Gordon is the Nuggets’ second best player, averaging 14.9 points per game. Will Barton adds 14.8 points per game. The Nuggets needed Jokic to carry them. If it weren’t for Jokic, the Nuggets are most likely a lottery team, meaning they would be out of the playoffs, waiting to see what their chances are to earn the #1 pick in the NBA Draft.
The MVP to me is obvious, Jokic. Embiid’s case is strong but not as convincing as Jokic’s. I would be highly surprised if the award went to Embiid. It just seems with the way the season has gone for the Nuggets, Jokic should win it, giving him back-to-back MVP’s
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