NBA MVP Power Rankings: Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid battling for early-season dominance
1. Joel Embiid
What Joel Embiid has been able to do this season in both individual and team success should not be overlooked. Even after finally breaking through and winning the NBA MVP award last season, he should be in consideration once again this year. And he’s off to a banging campaign. When James Harden made his intentions clear (that he wanted a trade out of Philadelphia), the overwhelming opinion was that the Sixers were about to take a big step back.
However, through the first few weeks of the season that hasn’t exactly happened. Instead, the Sixers have looked like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. While Tyrese Maxey’s breakout start to the year is a part of the reason why the Sixers haven’t missed a beat without Harden, what Embiid is able to do starts it all for Philadelphia.
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Embiid is averaging 32 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists per game on 50 percent shooting from the field. Embiid leads his team in points per game, and rebounds per game, and is percentage points away from doing so in assists per game as well. He’s doing absolutely insane things from the center position.