Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have been mentioned alongside one another incessantly for the last two seasons. Both centers have been playing at an elite level, reaffirming the influence that an excellent big man can have in the modern game. It’s no surprise that they’ve both been frontrunners for MVP for both seasons, with Jokic taking the prestigious honor last season.
Naturally, because of their position and their coinciding run of incredible form, both players get compared to one another by fans as well as the media. This is a bit odd, considering that their styles of play are vastly different. Both are monsters in the pain when it comes to scoring but Embiid is also an elite defender while Jokic has a case to be considered the best passing big man in the history of the game.
Jokic was asked about the constant comparisons with Embiid during an interview during the All-Star break and he was incredibly complimentary about the Cameroonian, going so far as to suggest that Embiid should win an MVP award himself after Giannis and Jokic have both won in recent years.
“I mean, I like it because I think he’s a great player. But I don’t think that we have a similar style of basketball. I wish I can do the things that he does on the court, you know. He’s amazing, I think he’s brilliant.
“He’s really aggressive, he’s playing on a really, really high level this season. He changed the game and I’m really glad that he’s a big man. Because Shaq is going to appreciate it, I think the big men, Giannis, he won back-to-back MVP, I won MVP, now hopefully Embiid can be MVP one time too.”
While Jokic and Embiid are both in the MVP race again this season, Embiid seems to be edging ahead. If the Sixers man can stay fit, then it’s more likely than not that he bags the award. It’s a shame that Jokic’s Nuggets team has been decimated by injuries this year and the last, an NBA Finals between the two big men on current form would be one of the most exciting battles to watch at the highest level.
