A crazy stat came out, suggesting Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid shouldn’t win the MVP award — and leaving NBA fans divided.
The Sixers star, 29, sat out Monday’s 116-111 loss to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, missing his 14th game of the 2022-23 NBA season.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid sat out Monday’s matchup with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, missing his 14th game of the 2022-23 season
Jokic is the reigning MVP having won the award in the previous two seasons
And many think Embiid’s absence could factor against him in the MVP race and hand the award to Jokic for the third straight season.
Only one NBA player has missed 14 or more regular-season games and still claimed the honor, according to ESPN.
Hall of Famer Bill Walton scooped the trophy in addition to making the All-Defensive First Team during the 1977-78 campaign.
However, he made just 58 appearances for the Portland Trail Blazers that season, watching the other 24 games from the sidelines.
But NBA fans are torn whether the stat should have an impact on the outcome of the MVP ballot this year.
One tweeted: “Players with less than 70 games played shouldn’t win MVP.”
Another wrote: “The agenda has begun.”
A third commented: “Just say you want Jokic to win MVP already.”
One added: “Exactly he will not be eligible in voters’ minds. And I agree 100%.”
And one tweeted: “To win MVP you’ve actually gotta play games… has anyone told Embiid that?”
Many NBA fans and analysts did agree that Embiid’s DNP could diminish his chances in the MVP race because he missed a direct matchup with Jokic, his main rival for the award.
And the Sixers star did so on the same day an interview came out in which he complained about the ever-changing criteria of the MVP voting.
Moreover, a video has emerged showing Embiid seemingly at Ball Arena after the game even though he wasn’t cheering on his teammates from the bench — unlike James Harden, who also missed the clash.
The clip prompted many NBA fans to claim the former Kansas standout “ducked” Jokic and Nuggets fans on Monday night.
It’s not yet confirmed Embiid indeed spent the game in the locker room.
The former No. 3 pick and Jokic faced off earlier in the season when the Sixers claimed a 126-119 win over Denver on January 28.
And Embiid put on a show that night, logging 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Jokic averages 24.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 9.9 assists over 67 games in 2022-23.
Meanwhile, Embiid records a league-best 33.3 points as well as 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game after 61 appearances.
Hall of Famer and former Portland Trail Blazers star Bill Walton is the only NBA player to have won the MVP award after missing 14 or more games in the regular season
