A product of ‘the process’ Joel Embiid, of the Philadelphia 76ers, currently leads the Kia MVP Ladder and for good reason. The generational big man leads the league in points per game averaging 33.3. The last centre to average 30 points per game was Moses Malone back in the 1981/2 season. Not only does he lead scoring but he is doing it in a very efficient manner, with a FG% of 54.5 over the season. His scoring is helped by his special ability to draw fouls and get to the line attempting 11.9 free throws per game in 22/23, only second to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Embiid makes teams pay at the free throw line shooting 85.9% from this distance. The big man is a varied scorer that is able to stretch the floor, with 15.6% of his buckets coming from mid-range and 9.3% from the 3-point line. He scored a career-high 59 points, along with 11 rebounds and 8 assists, earlier in the season against the Utah Jazz and leads the league with 43 games of at least 30 points or more. His 76ers have a healthy 49-25 record and will look to contend with fellow favourites Boston and Milwaukee to become Eastern Conference champions in the play-offs.
"Joel Embiid is the leading candidate for league MVP honours!"
Stephen A. Smith
Embiid is also favourite with the bookies and this is contributed to by reasons outside the statistics. Embiid has been close runner up in the MVP race for the previous two seasons, where Jokic has seen back-to-back MVPs. Only three players have won three consecutive MVPs and they do not include Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Voters, that are 80% made up of media member ballots and 20% fan votes, seem to become tireless of voting for the same winners. Especially because Jokić has failed to reach NBA Conference Finals in both years that he’s been the reigning MVP and although the post-season does not count towards MVP, it does effect a player’s reputation.
Second round sensation Nikola Jokić is having another statistical anomaly-type season. The fellow big man leads the league in triple-doubles, having recorded 28. Following Jokić’s first 24 triple doubles, the Denver Nuggets were a perfect 24-0 when he achieved this landmark which displays the positive impact his contributions are having on the game. In fact, these 24 wins contributed to Jokic possessing the longest triple-double win streak in NBA history. Jokic has also put up three 40-15-10 games, the most in a single season in NBA history. This season he also became the sixth player to record 100 career triple-doubles in a win over the Houston Rockets. His unique blend of passing, scoring, and rebounding gives him the highest offensive player rating in the league, contributed to by his 9.9 assists per game and 11.8 boards.
Statistically speaking, Jokić is clear of Embiid in most categories however some pundits are claiming on the eye-test that his defence can be lacklustre and is targeted by opposing teams. Nevertheless, many of Denver’s role players are having their most efficient seasons playing with Jokić, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon. The Serb has been the centrepiece of the Nuggets’ success this campaign, leading them to the best record in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.
The MVP award has been criticised by many for its vague criteria and is bound to be divisive if several players are having MVP-like seasons. Nevertheless, soon enough it is highly likely that either Embiid will be adding an MVP to his résumé or Jokić will become one of four to win three consecutive MVPs along with Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Whatever the outcome, Shaq will approve as these two big men have well and truly dominated this season.
