This year is another year where the NBA MVP could go to Joel Embiid, but once again, it looks like it will go to someone else.
The top contenders to take it from him are the guys who won the last 4 MVPs, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic. Jokic seems to be the leader in the clubhouse to pick up his 3rd straight MVP, but Embiid has recently changed a lot of minds on who should win.
People always thought that I was crazy when I said this — I really believe that I’m not well-liked. And it’s cool with me, that’s fine. I’ll be the bad guy. I like being the a–hole anyway. I like being the underdog. So that’s fine with me. My thing is, when I leave the game of basketball, I want to make sure that people looked at me as … it’s hard to be the greatest ever because you’ve got to win a bunch of championships and not everyone is lucky to do it because only one team can win and you have to have the right pieces around you … but when I leave the game, I want to make sure that they say: No one was stopping him offensively and defensively, and he was a monster.
All I care about is the pressure that I put on myself to win. People have been talking about who has the most pressure to win. People want to mention me. I’m not at the top of that list. I’m not a two-time MVP, I’ve never made first team All-NBA, I’ve never won anything. So why is there pressure on me to do something when there are guys that have won two MVPs, a bunch of MVPs and haven’t done anything either?
The two were supposed to match up for the last time of the season Monday night, which would probably sway a few voters in either direction, but it turns out, Embiid won’t be playing in the game. Some think it’s because of load management, and some think it’s because something could be wrong after this being the last four-game road trip for the Sixers.
Kendrick Perkins, however, thinks that Embiid is just ducking Jokic.
While on ESPN, Perkins talked about Embiid missing the marquee matchup, saying he can’t sit out this game and that he has a vote and will remember this moment when voting.
If this does hurt Embiid’s case for MVP, he’d likely finish 2nd to Jokic for the 3rd straight year. Giannis may beat them both.
Here is what Perk had to say.
"Joel Embiid is ducking that smoke… You cannot sit out this game… When it comes down to these matchups, I have a vote [for MVP]. I'm going to remember this moment."
Kendrick Perkins on Embiid not playing against Nikola Jokic tonight 🗣️pic.twitter.com/nJBypWtdSa
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 27, 2023
