NBA, Embiid surpasses Jokic for MVP title
The main US bookmakers see Joel Embiid as the favorite for the Most Valuable Player award
This year, the race for the MVP title is proving to be even more competitive than the last seasons. The two main contenders for weeks now have been Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, with the latter having maintained the top position in all predictions so far.
In recent times, the 76ers have been the most in-form team, and the credit goes primarily to the explosive Joel Embiid, finally fit and capable of dominating on both ends of the court.
The Cameroonian, originally from Yaoundé, was chosen with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, behind Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker (the Bucks must still be regretting that choice). However, Joel spent two years on the sidelines due to a stress fracture in his foot. Not the best possible start, but he didn’t lose heart and began making a name for himself with his Twitter banter, while continuing to work hard in the gym. “Even though I didn’t play, I improved a lot, I’m no longer the player I was before”, he said when he finally made his NBA debut.
Right from the start, Sixers fans realized that waiting so long might have been worth it, as Joel Embiid is a perfect mix of physique, technique, and personality. The problem was that his body kept breaking down, and he played only 31 games in his first season. There were already comparisons being made to Greg Oden, the unfortunate top pick of Portland in 2007, who retired after just a few years in the league due to a body ravaged by injuries.
Even Joel Embiid seriously considered retiring, not so much because of physical problems, but because in 2014, when he was drafted, his younger brother Arthur died.
I had to dig deep inside myself to find the desire to play, it was a very tough time, but I felt that if I made it, my brother would be proud of me
Joel Embiid
And as basketball fans, we are glad that he didn’t give up, because otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to admire one of the most dominant players of our time, perhaps currently the most dominant along with Nikola Jokic.
We feel that whoever wins the MVP award will have deserved it, not only for what they’ve shown on the court, but also considering how difficult it is for two guys coming from very distant places to make it in a league that naturally tends to favor American players more easily.