Adrian Wojnarowski joins Malika Andrews on NBA Today to discuss the Philadelphia 76ers announcing that Joel Embiid won’t play in Monday’s game against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Tim Bontemps, Ohm Youngmisuk, Richard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and Vince Carter also react to the news.
0:00 Why Embiid won’t play
3:14 James Harden’s status
4:15 Jokic’s pursuit of 3rd straight MVP
5:11 Reaction with RJ, Perk & VC
✔️Subscribe to ESPN+ http://espnplus.com/youtube
✔️ Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔️Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
✔️ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔️ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
42 Comments
Someone is hiding 😂
5-2 against Jokic but embiid has played with players that were all stars and on all-defense or all-team teams. Ben Simmons used to be called the next LeBron James. Simmons was also a terrific defender. Embiid played with Dwight Howard too. James Harden was selected as one of the best 75 players in nba history. Jokic has never played with someone who has been an all star or picked on all-team or all-defense teams. This isn’t a 1v1 sport. This is a team sport and Embiid has had the much better teammates in the past than Jokic has. Sorry but it’s true.
Small fact, Embiid has sat out the last 3 matchups against Jokic at Denver. Only plays in Philly….
I was looking forward to the matchup
wow….
10/6/2025
media sad today
Nuggets are 47 and 19 when jokic plays this year embid 40 and 21 sixers when he plays not that close
Embiid has missed 14 games this year…more than any MVP candidate in many recent years. Joker has played in 66 games and missed 8.
Kendrick thank you for being honest..
We all know he want the MVP so much, no way he running now? Are you really scare? You can't do this
I’d rather have more substance than Eye candy. The eye candy is an unnecessary distraction this time of year.
If Embiid plays hurt and Joker plays healthy and he plays good against a hurt Embiid that would reahurt his chances for MVP he has been playing hurt for some time but not with one hurt
Comeon Joel, you are not having a serious injury. If you want to get the MVP you just cannot miss this game! You need to treat it just like a NBA final game. PERK is right the voter will remember this more than the 47 points last time.
🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆
The timing of this by Embiid is especially bad since he has been piling on Jokic in the media lately. Makes him backing out of this game look extra foolish
MVP should go to Jokic now, Embiid chickened out
Joel No Mile High Embiid….3 straight years.
Chickening out, I see.
Embiid is scared lmaooooo
Never duck smoke Pat.
This is the most embiid thing
Perkins is 100% right.
LOOOOOL CERTIFIED CHOKED!! Thats why the media was hyping him for the past week, Jokic clearly the mvp, giannis comes as 2nd!
Adam you need to fix this. 2 of the biggest stars and one of them won’t play to get ready for the play offs
wow… i wonder how's the feeling for people who endorse embiid for MVP right now…
Nuggets go on a 4 game struggle: EmbIiD iS ThE mVp
Sizers go on a 4 game struggle: Joel just needs his rest for playoffs he puts up numbers even though his team is losing
This is going to swing the MVP Vegas odds in Jokic's favor. They were pretty close to tied before the game.
Last time Embiid played Jokic he cooked Jokic so idk why anyone is saying he's running
Embiid hasn't played in Denver homecourt since 2019 and no one is gonna mention that lmao
Smh certain games you circle on your calendar. Joel you ducking smoke .
0:16 is that a boil or wound?
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it must be a duck
I just lost mad respect
This is why I'll never respect Embitch and he's my most hated player in the league. Sure he's dominant, but his play style is almost unwatchable to me thanks to his flopping and whining and he also doesn't seem to be very smart based on the stupid things he says in the media. And he is very insecure based on all the shade he's thrown at Jokic recently. Combine that with this weak move of sitting out a game against Jokic and it looks even worse on Embitch. Not my MVP!
Embiid made a calculated decision: had he been outplayed by Jokic on this game, it might have compromised his MVP chances. Now it's a bit sad for the fans cause it would have been a great show.
This lost him the mvp lol
Breaking news? lol, talk about over reacting
That was mad funny by Perk 😂
He duckin Jokic, plain and simple.
Embiid didn’t want the smoke. True competitors look at those matchups and moments. Jordan and kobe would never do that
Joel Joke!😉