Joel Embiid wins third Player of the Week, but won't repeat as MVP

Embiid had a stellar week, averaging 37.8 points and 8.5 rebounds as Philadelphia went 4-0. 

He's arguably having a strong season than his MVP campaign of 2022-23. Embiid is leading the league in scoring with 35 points per game, with a career-high 5.9 assists per game. He upped his rebounds to 11.4 per game, blocks 1.9 shots per game and makes 36% of his three-pointers.

So why isn't he going to win MVP? It's the NBA's new requirement that players have to play 65 games to be eligible for postseason awards. Embiid has already missed 10 games halfway through Philadelphia's season and judging by how the 76ers have been using him, he's likely to miss a lot more.

Embiid sits out a lot of road games. He's played 20 games at home, and 11 on the road. He's also more likely to sit out when visiting good teams, like the Celtics, Timberwolves, Pelicans and Heat.

This is probably a wise move by Philadelphia, especially since Embiid has a history of wearing down before the playoffs. After getting his first MVP trophy last year, the 29-year-old has nothing left to prove in the regular season. Embiid needs to deliver in the playoffs.

Given how heated the fans of the Sixers and Denver Nuggets have become over MVP races in the last few years, Embiid falling short of games played might be the perfect outcome. He gets to preserve his body, pick and choose his road opponents and put up eye-popping stats.

Meanwhile, Sixers fans get to rail against the 65-game requirement. As much as Philadelphia fans love their local teams, there's one thing they love more: Complaining. 

Embiid is on track to give them the perfect season for both.