The Sixer Sense
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2018-19 NBA MVP Ladder 1.0: Joel Embiid representing the Philadelphia 76ers early on

By Christopher Kline

Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Where does Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid stand in the MVP race through nine games?

Is it too early to name an MVP favorite? Yes. But that doesn’t mean it’s too early to discuss which players have stood out in the 2018-19 NBA season. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid happens to be among that group.

While the Sixers haven’t been overly impressive as a collective unit, Embiid is off to the best start of his young career. Other teams — Raptors, Bucks, Warriors, etc. — have gotten off to quick starts and have elite players of their own.

This season is already shaping up to be highly entertaining. The Rockets and Lakers will eventually return to relevance, moving James Harden and LeBron James back into a packed MVP conversation. Some surprising names are already on the board.

Here’s the first installment of the 2018-19 MVP ladder.

Honorable mentions: DeMar DeRozan (Spurs), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Kevin Durant (Warriors), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), LeBron James (Lakers)