This year’s NBA MVP race is coming down to the wire. Perhaps more than usual, though, players weigh in on who should win the coveted award. Most recently, Danny Green shared his thoughts, telling Sideline Sources’ Wenzell Ortiz that Joel Embiid is his pick to win.
Green, 35, played with Embiid for two seasons in Philadelphia. However, he made it clear that his personal relationship with Embiid did not play a role in him saying he should take home MVP. He believes Embiid deserves it for his stellar play, particularly as of late.
In his last 15 games, the 29-year-old is averaging 34.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Moreover, he is shooting an astounding 57.9% from the field and 85.1% from the charity stripe, on nearly 13 attempts per contest. These numbers have equated to wins, as well. The 76ers have a record of 11-4 during this stretch.
“I’d like to see Joel win,” Green told Ortiz. “Not because I was his teammate but because he deserves it.”
The 14-year NBA veteran averaged 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in Philadelphia alongside Embiid. He also shot 40.5% from beyond the arc. Currently, Green is playing for the Cavaliers, who are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 47-28.
Draymond Green also picks Embiid for MVP
Green isn’t the only player to pick Embiid for MVP. Warriors forward Draymond Green echoed a similar sentiment, stating that it’s “Joel’s award to lose.“
The former Defensive Player of the Year first spoke about the nip and tuck race on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show. He believed that the award was between Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Jokic falling out of contention due to Denver’s recent string of losses. Ultimately, Green did pick Embiid.
“Right now in the MVP race, I think it’s Joel,” Green said on his podcast. “I think it’s Joel’s award to lose. I think the way he loses that award is his team starts losing. Joel’s going to put up Joel numbers, Joel going to do what Joel has been doing. It’s Joel’s award to lose. It’s interesting how much things are changing, you look at the standings, this MVP stuff is changing. Joel should get his first MVP this year. I don’t expect Philly to hit some crazy losing streak. And be that they won’t do that, it should be Joel’s to lose.”
Fast forward to last Friday, when the Warriors beat the Sixers 120-112, and Green doubled down on his espousal of Embiid for MVP. He posited that the two-time MVP runner-up has created some separation with his recent stretch of dominant performances. Green also lauded Embiid’s growth throughout the years.
“As far as the MVP race goes, I think over the last couple of weeks, Joel started to create some separation and he’s done a good job of that,” Green said. “His team continues to win — wasn’t able to get a win tonight — but the team continues to win and his play has gotten better and better.
And so I think you got to really reward his growth and acknowledge the growth because I think that’s a huge part of it … he’s gotten more comfortable with that and I think that’s huge.”
In Philadelphia’s loss to Golden State, Embiid finished with 46 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Vucevic say Jokic is the MVP
While Embiid is currently the MVP favorite, the reigning two-time winner is still very much in the race. Particularly, it is the Celtics’ Brogdon and the Bulls’ Vucevic endorsing Jokic.
In an interview with Bally Sports’ Brandon Robinson, the Sixth Man of the Year favorite said Jokic is his MVP pick. Interestingly, though, he omitted Embiid from his list of contenders. Instead, he named Antetokounmpo and his teammate Jayson Tatum.
“I think Joker is probably No. 1 right now,” Brogdon said. “He’s having another incredible superb season, but I think that Giannis and JT are in that conversation as well. I think that they’re both having great seasons.”
Similarly, Vucevic also staked his flag in Jokic’s camp. Prior to a game against Denver in early March, the two-time All-Star shared his reasoning behind siding with Jokic. He cited the five-time All-Star’s overall impact on the Nuggets’ success, as well as his penchant for playing the right way.
“I think he deserves to get another one, the way he’s playing,” Vucevic explained. “I think you take him out of that team, it’s not even close to the same team. The things that he does, you look at his stats, the efficiency he’s playing at, it’s very impressive.
And it’s not like he’s putting up numbers and they’re not winning. They’re (25-0) when he has a triple-double. And he plays in a winning way. He makes the right play; he doesn’t force; he doesn’t try to do something just to do it. It’s all within the flow of the game. It’s winning basketball.”x
The MVP race is very close
Embiid, Jokic, and Antetokounmpo are all putting up exceptional stats while leading their teams to formidable records. The former is averaging 33.4 points (league leader), 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Embiid is also leading the NBA in free throw attempts per game, with 11.9.
The reigning two-time MVP is averaging a near triple-double. He averages 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds (2nd), and 9.9 assists (4th). The Nuggets are also first in the Western Conference.
Finally, Antetokounmpo has the Bucks sitting atop the league, with a record of 53-20. He is putting up 31.1 points (5th), 11.8 rebounds (3rd), and 5.6 assists.
