On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Comparing the MVP cases of Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic
As the NBA regular season winds down, the MVP race between Joel Embiid of the 76ers and Nikola Jokić of the Nuggets tightens.
The past two seasons, Jokić has won the MVP, edging Embiid both times. Per Oddschecker, the players are neck and neck this season. However, four-time NBA champion Draymond Green of the Warriors gives Embiid the edge.
"Joel has definitely created a tad bit of separation," he said on his podcast recently.
On Jan. 28, in their only head-to-head matchup this season, Embiid dominated, tallying 47 points, 18 rebounds and three steals in Philadelphia's 126-119 win. Jokić, meanwhile, had 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
Here's how their MVP cases stack up.
Basic stats
Both big men are having great seasons statistically.
Jokić is averaging 24.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 9.9 assists and shooting 63.4% from the field. If he were to average 10 assists, he'd be the only center and third player in NBA history to average a triple-double. (The others were Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook, who has done it four times.)
Embiid is averaging a league-leading 33.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 54.5 percent overall, 34.1 percent from three and 85.6 percent from the line. He is also the anchor for the 76ers' seventh-ranked defense, averaging 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks.
Last season, Embiid became the first center since Shaq to average 30 points in a season. He'll repeat that feat this season.
Their offensive production is similar, but they go about it in different ways. Jokić is more focused on facilitating the running of Denver's offense while Embiid's priority is dominating in the post. Embiid's stellar defense gives him an edge over "The Joker."
Advanced statistics
It will be tough for Embiid to base his case on these advanced numbers that usually favor two-time MVP Jokić, an advanced stats darling.
Jokić leads the NBA in plus/minus (+789) by a large margin. Second and third are teammates Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (+683) and Aaron Gordan (+657). This may be a bigger sign of the Nuggets' success as a team than Jokić's individual dominance.
Embiid is 11th in the NBA in plus/minus at +531 and the only 76er in the top 12.
Per FiveThirtyEight, Jokić leads the NBA in total RAPTOR (+14.6) and RAPTOR WAR (+20.4). (The figures measure how much a player contributes to his team's offense and defense per 100 possessions, relative to the league average.)
Embiid is second in both categories (+8.6 and +12.3).
Overall, Jokić dominates Embiid when looking strictly at advanced statistics.
Team success
The Nuggets (51-24) and 76ers (49-26) are having excellent seasons, with Denver first in the Western Conference and Philadelphia third in the East.
The teams are tied for the second-best record since Jan. 1 (28-12), but Denver has struggled recently. Earlier this month, it lost five of six games, including losses to the San Antonio Spurs (19-56) and Chicago Bulls (36-39).
Their team records are close, but you could argue Embiid merits an edge playing in the tougher Eastern Conference.
Bottom line
Reigning MVP Jokić hasn't done quite enough to join Bill Russell (1960-63), Wilt Chamberlain (1965-68) and Larry Bird (1983-86) as the only NBA players to win three straight MVPs.
Embiid should win the 2023 NBA MVP award.
More must-reads:
- Nikola Jokic joins Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson on exclusive list after Nuggets' win vs. Sixers
- Nikola Jokic comments on Joel Embiid following Nuggets vs. 76ers
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Knicks Primed to Land Former All-Star in Free Agency as Potential Buyout Looms
Who doesn't love playing in a big market like New York, Los Angeles, and some of the other prime destinations that the NBA has to offer? Kevin Love certainly doesn't mind them. In fact, the former All-Star prefers them. Jake Fischer recently offered insight into where the aging big man may end up as his next destination. The NBA insider reaffirmed previous reports that stated Love prefers a big market. Fischer said, "So with Kevin Love, to my understanding, he really only wants to be in the big glamour markets. I do think it would mostly be something along the lines of Kevin Love going to a New York or a Los Angeles type of situation. So, we'll see if that can materialize for him." With the New York Knicks still in the market for a boost to their depth, Love could be a natural connection for the team to explore. The recently-traded big man will await his buyout from the Utah Jazz. If or when those terms are settled, the Knicks could add the former champion to a spot on the bench. Veteran presence of Kevin Love not without value for New York Love is certainly long past his days as a double-double machine, like he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The floor-spacing big man is not even what he used to be with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, writing him off entirely would be unwise. If there is not key thing Love can still offer to any team, it is undoubtedly his 3-point shooting. The 36-year-old shot 35.8 percent from beyond the arc last season for the Miami Heat. No one is saying to offer Love a prominent bench role, or anything of the sort. However, when the situation calls for an offensive lift and a spaced out floor, the former top five pick can still fit the bill in that scenario.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon
After years of speculation and nothing materializing, the New York Yankees have at last acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz are headed to the Mile High City in return. They were the number eight and 21st-ranked prospects in the Yankees' farm system, per MLB.com. Given the Yankees' struggles at the third-base position over the last few years, bringing in a guy who was an All-Star in 2024 and will be much more reliable is a win. Former MLB player and current analyst Cameron Maybin certainly believes that, as he was pushing the McMahon-to-New York narrative over the last week and feels it could be a great fit for both sides. "The third baseman they need plays in Colorado...I'm telling you! Defensively more than adequate and Taylor made for the ballpark offensively," Maybin wrote on social media. Maybin went on to mention how McMahon will feel reinvigorated joining a World Series contender like the Yankees after the last six-and-a-half years of being at the bottom in Colorado. The 30-year-old is not having his best season, slugging 16 home runs and 35 RBI with a .217 average through 100 games with the Rockies, per MLB.com stats. However, he's consistently been a 20-plus home run hitter who drives in runs at a strong rate and has a large sample size of doing so. Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez (.252 average, 36 HRs, 86 RBI) has seemed to be No. 1 target for most teams, and for good reason, but given the Yankees' current situation and weaknesses, McMahon made more sense. Not only does he play a better third base, which New York desperately needs, but he has another two years of control after 2025, whereas Suarez would have been a rental. The acquisition cost was nothing crazy, and adding a lefty bat with some power to potentially take advantage of the short porch at Yankee Stadium is always a bonus. Some may not be satisfied until they see McMahon positively impacting the New York Yankees, but rest assured, this is a very solid pickup.
Former Eagles champion announces retirement from NFL
One veteran NFL defender is ready to trade the football field for the golf course. Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks announced in a post to social media on Friday that he is retiring from the NFL. Hicks is calling it quits after 10 career seasons with four different teams. “I walk away with peace knowing I gave football all I had, and that the best is yet to come,” Hicks wrote in his post. You can see the post in full here. Now 33 years old, Hicks was a third-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2015. He spent the first four seasons of his career with them and was a member of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning team in the 2018 campaign. Hicks later went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Cleveland Browns as well. The former University of Texas star Hicks was one of the more versatile linebackers of his era, capable of playing all three positions (inside, middle, and outside). He tied for third in the NFL with five interceptions during the 2016 season and also later ranked third in the NFL with 150 combined tackles during the 2019 season. Hicks made 12 appearances in 2024 for the Browns but is now content with walking away from the game. He also dealt with a dangerous physical condition that required hospitalization a couple years ago and has thus decided to move onto his next chapter.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
