Sixers star Joel Embiid was making a solid MVP case before his injury in March, dominating opponents and leading his team to the best record in the East.
And while his campaign has taken a huge hit this season, some still believe he deserves the nod.
In a segment on “Inside the NBA,” legendary big man Shaquille O’Neal explained why Embiid is still his pick for this season’s MVP.
“I’d give it to Joel Embiid right now. He’s playing the game like he’s supposed to be playing. He’s leading, rebounding, playing inside and he’s out there having fun. His PPG (Point Per Game) is more than the Joker’s. He’s a little bit better. He’ll be a 10 and the Joker will be a 9.9762541—they’re very very close.
“If you ask me for my opinion, I would go with Joel Embiid this year. They’re very very close,” said O’Neal.
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Perhaps the most convincing component of Embiid’s MVP case is the position of his team. Despite the Brooklyn Nets superteam looking dominant, the Sixers still hold the better record, sitting at first in the East.
And while the Nuggets aren’t too far off from that mark, Embiid has definitely played well enough to be a frontrunner. With an average of 30.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, he is proving to be among the league’s elite.
But whether or not he’ll be named MVP, or an NBA Champion, this season remains to be seen.
