Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is certainly trusting the process when it comes to the 27-year-old from Cameroon. Joel Embid is having another MVP caliber season and will be looking to avenge himself from last year’s MVP race where he didn’t win. Even with a condensed NBA schedule of 72 games last season, Embid still only played in 51 games.
In 46 games played and started this season, the big man is averaging 29.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. He is having a career-high year in scoring and assists. Don’t forget he is also averaging 1.0 steal and 1.4 blocks as well, along with 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and a field goal percentage right under 50 percent.
The numbers he puts up are impressive and are worth being named MVP for. Sometimes being the MVP involves other things as well. Like the effort and intensity he plays with. The leadership and desire to win all add up to why Embid is the front-runner for MVP.
Philly even did what seemed impossible as they were able to trade away Ben Simmons and received James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets. The 76ers are in win-now mode and they know the championship window for Harden and Embid to win only gets smaller. Two and a half games back from first place leaves Philadelphia in a great position to be at the top of the East after the All-Star break.