Following a fiercely debated MVP discussion towards the end of the season between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, with Giannis Antetokounmpo hoping to play spoiler, Embiid is the frontrunner to win the MVP award for the first time in his career and end Jokic’s quest for a three-peat. Embiid, who led the NBA in scoring for the second straight season at 33.1 points per game, admitted during an interview with Rachel Nichols on Showtime’s Headliners that he cares about winning the award.
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Erik Slater @erikslater_
Jacque Vaughn said the Nets will lean into Nic Claxton’s advantages against Joel Embiid. I asked Clax what he feels those advantages are:
“Just using my footwork, my quickness. Obviously he has however many points on me, so I’m not gonna be able to out-muscle him. Then… – 1:56 PM
Jacque Vaughn said the Nets will lean into Nic Claxton’s advantages against Joel Embiid. I asked Clax what he feels those advantages are:
“Just using my footwork, my quickness. Obviously he has however many points on me, so I’m not gonna be able to out-muscle him. Then… – 1:56 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Nic Claxton on if he’s talked trash to Joel Embiid before: “We’ve had some discussions.” – 1:41 PM
Nic Claxton on if he’s talked trash to Joel Embiid before: “We’ve had some discussions.” – 1:41 PM
Erik Slater @erikslater_
Nic Claxton on whether he anticipates trash talking between him and Joel Embiid:
“I like to chat on the court. Talking trash is a part of basketball. We’ve had some discussions in the past.” – 1:19 PM
Nic Claxton on whether he anticipates trash talking between him and Joel Embiid:
“I like to chat on the court. Talking trash is a part of basketball. We’ve had some discussions in the past.” – 1:19 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid talks about his “movie” like road from Africa to the NBA exclusively with @andscape. The #NBA All-Star is also putting away the MVP talk and is focused on an NBA title. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to win.” bit.ly/41iRnnu – 1:02 PM
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid talks about his “movie” like road from Africa to the NBA exclusively with @andscape. The #NBA All-Star is also putting away the MVP talk and is focused on an NBA title. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to win.” bit.ly/41iRnnu – 1:02 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
Watched Dame on the Stephen A alternate broadcast. Didn’t say anything about offseason/future that he didn’t say at exit interviews. Called Victor Wembanyama “undeniable.” Said his favorite players in the league are Mikal Bridges and Joel Embiid, for what’s that worth. – 8:53 PM
Watched Dame on the Stephen A alternate broadcast. Didn’t say anything about offseason/future that he didn’t say at exit interviews. Called Victor Wembanyama “undeniable.” Said his favorite players in the league are Mikal Bridges and Joel Embiid, for what’s that worth. – 8:53 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Big shout out to my guy @Krisplashed for joining @EliotShorrParks and I on the podcast today to offer some perspective on the Nets, Ben Simmons, James Harden, and the fear Joel Embiid puts into other teams
phillyvoice.com/clap-your-hand… pic.twitter.com/kjjoFP3gIV – 2:43 PM
Big shout out to my guy @Krisplashed for joining @EliotShorrParks and I on the podcast today to offer some perspective on the Nets, Ben Simmons, James Harden, and the fear Joel Embiid puts into other teams
phillyvoice.com/clap-your-hand… pic.twitter.com/kjjoFP3gIV – 2:43 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
NBA’s jersey sales top 15:
1. LeBron James
2. Steph Curry
3. Jayson Tatum
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
5. Luka Doncic
6. Kevin Durant
7. Devin Booker
8. Ja Morant
9. Dame Lillard
10. Kyrie Irving
11. LaMelo Ball
12. Nikola Jokic
13. Joel Embiid
14. Jaylen Brown
15. Jordan Poole pic.twitter.com/jhMVmMqcMk – 1:19 PM
NBA’s jersey sales top 15:
1. LeBron James
2. Steph Curry
3. Jayson Tatum
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
5. Luka Doncic
6. Kevin Durant
7. Devin Booker
8. Ja Morant
9. Dame Lillard
10. Kyrie Irving
11. LaMelo Ball
12. Nikola Jokic
13. Joel Embiid
14. Jaylen Brown
15. Jordan Poole pic.twitter.com/jhMVmMqcMk – 1:19 PM
Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
In last week’s win over Boston, James Harden suggested putting P.J. Tucker in the strong-side corner instead of the dunker spot.
That choice led to Tucker 3s, and it’s baed in the Sixers’ spacing strategy around Embiid/Harden isos: the three-and-one theathletic.com/4385779/2023/0… pic.twitter.com/KtmNpXwEu3 – 12:30 PM
In last week’s win over Boston, James Harden suggested putting P.J. Tucker in the strong-side corner instead of the dunker spot.
That choice led to Tucker 3s, and it’s baed in the Sixers’ spacing strategy around Embiid/Harden isos: the three-and-one theathletic.com/4385779/2023/0… pic.twitter.com/KtmNpXwEu3 – 12:30 PM
Erik Slater @erikslater_
The Nets’ game-planning against the 76ers will revolve around slowing down MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid.
Mikal Bridges and Jacque Vaughn opened up on the daunting challenge ahead of Game 1 Saturday. Story: clutchpoints.com/nets-news-mika… – 12:17 PM
The Nets’ game-planning against the 76ers will revolve around slowing down MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid.
Mikal Bridges and Jacque Vaughn opened up on the daunting challenge ahead of Game 1 Saturday. Story: clutchpoints.com/nets-news-mika… – 12:17 PM
Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Joel Embiid: “It’s funny, we don’t communicate when it comes to that… We just look at each other and I can be like, ‘OK, he really wants this.’”
The Sixers are an elite iso team. They do it with two players and one spacing alignment: the “three-and-one” https://t.co/HxP6IkyRjP pic.twitter.com/AeuVQGB6Pz – 11:12 AM
Joel Embiid: “It’s funny, we don’t communicate when it comes to that… We just look at each other and I can be like, ‘OK, he really wants this.’”
The Sixers are an elite iso team. They do it with two players and one spacing alignment: the “three-and-one” https://t.co/HxP6IkyRjP pic.twitter.com/AeuVQGB6Pz – 11:12 AM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Joel Embiid is a physical specimen with an unbelievable skill set. But “The Process” also knows how to mentally process, fueling another MVP-caliber season.
inquirer.com/sixers/joel-em… – 11:04 AM
Joel Embiid is a physical specimen with an unbelievable skill set. But “The Process” also knows how to mentally process, fueling another MVP-caliber season.
inquirer.com/sixers/joel-em… – 11:04 AM
More on this storyline
“I keep saying I don’t care. If I win, great. If I don’t, it’s whatever,” Joel Embiid told Andscape. “Being in the running the last three years has been cool. I’ve seen it all. It is funny. A lot has been said, and a lot of people haven’t been happy about how the whole thing has been going on, about how people keep bashing each other and all that stuff. Where was all that [sympathy for me]? People kept bashing me the last two seasons, putting me down. But now other guys are being put down, now it’s an issue.” -via Andscape / April 13, 2023
“So that’s why I stay out of it. This year I’ve made a commitment to not put myself out there, talking about I’m the MVP, or saying I want to win. For the guys that keep saying, ‘it’s whatever, I don’t care about winning it, doesn’t matter.’ But it’s all bulls—. You want to be the MVP. That means a lot being the MVP of the league. There are only certain guys that get the opportunity to have their name on it. It would be a great honor. But I’m the point now where I’m used to [the MVP talk]. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, great.” -via Andscape / April 13, 2023
The 76ers have not been to the NBA Finals since 2001 and haven’t won an NBA title in 40 years. So, what would it mean for Embiid to bring a championship back to the City of Brotherly Love? “It would mean everything. I’ve always said that it would be nice to play for one team for your whole career,” Embiid said. “It would be fun, but sometimes you also want new challenges and all that stuff. But it would mean a lot. I’ve been here for such a long time, but it would just validate all the suffering and all the hard work that we put in.” -via Andscape / April 13, 2023