Sixers

Zach LaVine and Mike Conley Think Joel Embiid is MVP

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Mar 23rd, 2023 · 10:06 AM EDT

---

Embiid, Jokic, or Giannis? Zach LaVine says Embiid:

Zach LaVine says Joel Embiid is the MVP

“I think he shoulda won one already…I think Embiid has it wrapped up this year. He’s that good.”

(Via @KCJHoop ) pic.twitter.com/HgQAEFfJou

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 22, 2023

Mike Conley says the same:

Mike Conley knows ball. @JoelEmbiid MVP #NBA @ryenarussillo @RTRSPodcast pic.twitter.com/JayfLkTEp3

— Frank (@stykes10) March 22, 2023

Embiid only played 16 minutes in Wednesday night’s blow out win in Chicago. He has what the Sixers are describing as “mild calf tightness.”

Joel has received a lot of MVP endorsements from players this year. LaVine, Conley, Draymond, etc. Tim Legler gave him a very strong endorsement as well, and Vegas now has Embiid pushing even further as the odds-on favorite, currently listed at -170 at DK as of Thursday morning, with Nikola Jokic at +230 and Giannis at +270.

The MVP will be won or lost during the next week. Denver hosts Milwaukee on Saturday and Philadelphia on Monday, so we get to see Jokic vs. Giannis and Jokic vs. Embiid in the span of 48 hours. It will be beautiful and brilliant, and the important thing here is that Joel has the opportunity to create an impressionable eye test kind of moment, if that makes sense. If he puts another Jokic duel/victory on tape, and does it at the end of the season on the road, that’s the kind of thing that resonates. It sticks in the minds of fans and media. But if Jokic has two strong outings against Giannis and Embiid, it could swing this thing back in his favor.

The tough thing for the Sixers is that GSW/Phoenix back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. They do get a day off on Sunday, but you have to decide between resting Embiid or making sure he’s staying close to Jokic in terms of total games played, so that people can’t use the “availability” argument this year.

Should be some excellent basketball this weekend. Buckle up.