Unbelievable stat suggests Joel Embiid has already lost MVP award to Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo
As the MVP ladder gets more and more exciting, an unbelievable stat could potentially cost Joel Embiid his MVP
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We are approaching the penultimate week of Regular Season action and the MVP Ladder gets more interesting with every passing week. Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been leading the race for the last 3 seasons. Jokic created history by winning back-to-back MVPs from 2021-22, with Embiid being the runner-up on both occasions. Embiid is currently ahead of Jokic and voter fatigue could potentially work in his favour, but an unbelievable stat suggests otherwise.
Joel Embiid has missed 14 games this season. Only ONE player has ever won MVP missing that many games (Bill Walton, 1977-78). There is no set minimum number of games a player must play in order to win the NBA MVP award. However, historically, MVP winners have typically played in a significant portion of their team’s games and have had a major impact on their team’s success. In recent years, some voters have considered a player’s availability and durability over the course of the season as a factor in their MVP decision.
Jokic played 72 and 74 games respectively in his back-to-back MVP seasons. The Serbian Superstar is coming off comprehensive victories against both his MVP counterparts. Nevertheless, Embiid is having a season for the ages averaging 33.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.
With Joel Embiid/Nikola Jokic on course to win the MVP, ranking the MVP seasons by Centers since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976
Since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, there have been six traditional centers who have won the NBA MVP award: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal and Nikola Jokic. Nikola Jokic won the NBA MVP award for the 2020-21 season, becoming the first center to win the award since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. The legacy of Centers is all set to be carried forward this season with Jokic and Embiid being the frontrunners.
Here are five of the best MVP seasons by NBA centers since 1976, ranked in Descending order.
5) Nikola Jokic (2020-21): Jokic had a historic season for the Denver Nuggets in 2020-21, averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Jokic led the Nuggets to a 47-25 record and won the NBA MVP award, becoming the first center to win the award since O’Neal in 2000.
4) Bill Walton (1977-78): In the 1977-78 NBA season, Bill Walton had a spectacular MVP season as the center for the Portland Trail Blazers. He led the Blazers to a league-best record of 58-24, averaging 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game
3) Kareem Abdul Jabbar (1976-77): In his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 26.2 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while leading the team to a 53-29 record and an NBA Finals appearance.
2) Shaquille O’Neal (1999-2000): O’Neal was dominant for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1999-2000 season, averaging 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 57.4% from the field. He led the Lakers to a 67-15 record and an NBA championship, winning his first MVP award in the process
1) Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94): Olajuwon had a stellar all-around season for the Houston Rockets in 1993-94, averaging 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game. He led the Rockets to a 58-24 record and their first NBA championship, earning his first MVP award in the process. Olajuwon also won the Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
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Skanda Narasimha
(57 Articles Published)