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Jokic or Embiid? 🤔 How NBA MVP voters are weighing their options | That’s OD



Ohm Youngmisuk and Dave McMenamin of That’s OD discuss what considerations they’re taking into account when voting between Philadelphia 76ers’ C Joel Embiid and reigning 2x MVP award winner Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets for this year’s tightly contested MVP race.

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48 Comments

  1. Saying Joel is a more dominant offensive player than someone who's so good on that side of the game that it makes him look like the best defender in the league is joke

  2. It makes my head spin when “analysts” are this bad (not referring to McMenamin here). Embiid had NOTHING to gain and EVERYTHING to lose by sitting out that game, as evidenced by the fact that people are saying he ducked Jokic and holding that against his MVP case! It doesn’t make sense, and Embiid is an ultra confident competitor. Dude isn’t scared of Jokic. You can argue he shouldn’t have played in some preceding games, but anything else is a lazy, horrendous take.

    The last guy to average a triple double was Westbrook…when he didn’t win MVP. So maybe don’t point to Westbrook as evidence for why Jokic should win.

    Hope this guy “pouring over stats” isn’t one of the same guys who love the stats that suggest Jokic is the greatest defender of all time.

  3. I’ve been watching hoops for 37 years and I never seen this much attention be put on this on a individual award…. It’s so insane that it has the media dudes in their feelings

  4. There’s only one choice, it’s completely obvious and anything else you are just lying to yourself.
    Proof:
    – this season Jokic on the floor outscores opponents by 14.1 points per 48 minutes. Embiid outscores opponents by 9.4 points per 48 minutes (this accounts for offence and defence). Nuggets completely suck without jokic; 76ers are good without embiid.
    -nuggets 1seed; 76ers 3rd seed
    – jokic played more games and has more wins
    Voting for Embiid over jokic is simply irresponsible as a voter

  5. Since the race is so close, I think the voters should take into account more who’s been available and how that effects their team’s record. Both Giannis & Embiid have played less games than Jokic and Jokic’s team is 1st in the West. That should matter more than the talking heads are leading on.

  6. Wait i've heard so many people say jokic doesnt care about this at all. Why did he "want a chance to defend himself on his home court" and was looking forward to it if he doesnt care

  7. Luka Doncic deserve and Jokara don't care…only win and championship count and playing for national team.

  8. I find it interesting that a Nuggets coach was more interested in Jokic getting the opportunity to get back at Embiid than in just winning.

    Most of these media people want Jokic to win MVP at all costs and will say anything to put Embiid down to make Jokic look good.

    When coaches are prioritising Jokic getting Embiid back over their team that should tell us all we need to know.

    A lot of great players have left that team because all the coaching staff cares about is propping up Jokic. Bones Hyland is the reason why Denver beat Philly last year on their home court but Jokic got the credit in the media. Meanwhile, Embiid dominated him that game. Now, Bones has been traded from the team because they didn't want to allow Bones, who was playing magnificently, to get a bigger role on the team.

    All the media said when Philly lost to Denver last season was Embiid lost the head to head matchup so he's lost the MVP in their eyes. Even though Embiid outplayed Jokic to the point where Jokic had to be benched for his team to get back in the game.

  9. The dude needs to understand he is no longer 15 years old… looking like a porcupine !!

  10. the fact that both these guys have a vote, making such stupid arguments, is just disappointing…

  11. The world seems to be on jokic but voter fatigue is the only reason why everyone is trying to believe that embiid is better. If I liked embiid than Id vote for him If I liked Jokic Id vote for him see. Ijust like Jokic line better and his narrative.

  12. Recency bias is real. People care more about what has happened in the last two weeks than the whole season

  13. We wil see if Joel duckin ,i am sure to he will not plat against Boston after they destroy Bucks,Problem is if Luka put 40 or more points against Hawks he will maybe also not play vs Bucks.hat is math problem of Embid,he dying to be MVP.

  14. No analytics, No way Embiid or Giannis should be MVP. EVERY player that has won the MVP since the 1970's has played 70 or more games. Neither Embiid Or Giannis has done that. Meanwhile Jokic has, he is the most valuable to his team, he is besting or equaling records set by Wilt, Oscar, and Magic, to name a few. Averaging a triple double on near 70% true shooting! He is a second round pick. His post season is not recently good, but even Michael Jordan would struggle without Pippen, or Pippen and Rodman. When Jokic had a healthy team they made the Western conference finals, Joel has not made it past the second round. Embiid also has missed every game in Denver since 2019! MVP is not the best player on the best team, it is the player most valuable to their team! Jokic fits that criteria, Embiid has an MVP on his team, it takes both Harden and Rmbiid to equal Jokic some games! He has had at least 3 – 40 plus point triple doubles This year!

  15. These numbers get neglected way too often:
    – PHI w/o Embiid: 9-4
    – MIL w/o Giannis: 9-6
    – DEN w/o Jokic: 3-7
    Denver w/o Jokic is one of the 4 worst teams in the entire NBA.
    Denver with Jokic is #1 in the West.
    You do the math.

  16. This guy shouldn’t have a vote he mad embiid was injured and couldnt play and holding that against him

  17. The simple question remains: WHY WOULD YOU PLAY AGAINST PHOENIX WITH ANYTON AND DURANT OUT?! PLAYERS SIT BACK TO BACKS ALL THE TIME NOW. SO WHY NOT SIT THE SUNS GAME IT MAKES NO SENSE. HE ABSOLUTELY AVOIDED THAT MATCHUP. HE HASNT PLAYED IN DENVER IN YEARS.

  18. I’m confused how they think the nuggets would have still won if Embiid played. The nuggets barely escaped this game and the Sixers didn’t have Embiid or Harden. Up 21 with less than 4 minutes left in the 3rd and you let it slide to 3pts? If the refs don’t miss a clear out of bounds this could’ve easily gone to OT. Whatever, Joker got his stats so it’s a wash for him.

  19. Games played
    Embiid: 63
    Jokic: 67

    Win/loss
    Philly with Embiid: 42-21 (66,6%)
    Philly without Embiid: 9-5 (64%)

    Denver with jokic: 48-19 (71,6%)
    Denver without jokic: 3-7 (30%)

    Denver 1st in west.
    Philadelphia 3rd i east.

    PER stats:
    Jokic 31.9
    Embiid 31.3

  20. jokic is way more consistent and played way more games, no doubt here but you all just need a topic so carry on!

  21. I was interested to hear Dave's take on this, with him being a Philly guy + someone who has never voted for Jokic. He was one of just two voters to pick CP3 in '21 (although that is a fair pick using his 'best player on best team' idea), and picked Joel last year. It sounds like he is leaning Giannis which would be a fair pick for sure

    As a Nuggets fan, I would of course love to see Jokic win his 3rd, but I'm secretly pulling for Joel. He's been amazing this year, leading the league in scoring and you can tell he really wants this award. It would be sad to see him finish 2nd yet again when he has had a great 3-4 year stretch. It just feels like it's his turn imo when he has been right there with Jokic and Giannis as the best, most impactful players in the league

  22. You don’t take the vote lightly but is still willing to consider a guy who doesn’t play defense, scores, and has had no playoff success during these supposed mvp seasons? Jokic is very good, just stop hyping him up to being a top 5 guy when he’s not.

  23. My man on the left.. is a talking contradiction. I feel like if you watched this season and Embiid or Giannis not your pick.. were not watching the same league or you don't respect the defensive side of the game

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