With the All-Star break approaching, the Sixers are 34-23, good for fifth place in the stacked Eastern Conference. The biggest factor in Philadelphia’s success, of course, has been Joel Embiid‘s MVP-caliber season. After finishing second in MVP voting last season, Embiid has been notably better in 2021-22.
Even without his co-star Ben Simmons, Embiid has kept the Sixers within striking distance of the 1-seed. Now, he gets reinforcements after the break in the form of James Harden. With another All-NBA player running beside him, Embiid’s job should get easier — not that he’s made it look particularly difficult this season.
Embiid continues to score at a historic per-minute rate. He draws fouls better than any NBA player, and he’s firmly in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. His two-way impact is entirely unique, and has placed him right back at the front of the MVP race.
Sixers’ Joel Embiid is currently the favorite to win NBA MVP
Right now, Embiid is the odds-on favorite to win MVP, and deservingly so. He has stiff competition in Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Embiid’s case is as strong as anyone’s. In fact, a recent straw poll from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps has Embiid (narrowly) claiming the No. 1 spot in MVP voting.
- Joel Embiid (789 points)
- 45 first place votes
- 38 second place votes
- 12 third place votes
- 4 fourth place votes
- 1 fifth place vote
- Nikola Jokic (754 points)
- 43 first place votes
- 39 second place votes
- 8 third place votes
- 3 fourth place votes
- 2 fifth place votes
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (512 points)
- 9 first place votes
- 14 second place votes
- 56 third place votes
- 13 fourth place votes
- 5 fifth place votes
There’s a lot of basketball left to be played, and like Bontemps mentions in his article, the Sixers’ schedule in March is extremely difficult. On the flip side, Denver has pretty easy sailing in March and could rack up wins. Also of note is the looming return of James Harden in Philadelphia and Jamal Murray in Denver, which could change the chemistry of the race. Neither big man has had much help this season, which could soon change.
To be clear, this race is extremely close. Those in the Sixers sphere claiming it’s all Embiid and no one else are being disingenuous, and the same can be said for those in Denver claiming it’s all Jokic and only Jokic. Bontemps’ straw poll bears that out — it’s basically split down the middle. The second half of the season will ultimately decide the final victor.
For the season, Embiid is averaging 29.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on .491/.360/.813 shooting. Jokic, meanwhile, is averaging 26.0 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists on .570/.372/.808 shooting. And, while he isn’t being discussed quite as much, Antetokounmpo’s statistical case is equally strong. He’s the NBA’s leading scorer, with averages of 29.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists on .547/.304/.720 shooting.