Joel Embiid: 'I don't know what else I have to do to win MVP award; it's just whatever' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Credit Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

While Nikola Jokic is set to be named MVP of the NBA for the second consecutive season, Joel Embiid left without anything again, despite garnering serious support from players, who have been vocal on social media.

Points this season

47%109,5Points made:109,5Accuracy:46,7%Place in standings:19Record max:144Record min:82Best scorer:Joel EmbiidTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

Embiid led the NBA in scoring at 30.6 points per game and averaged 11.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 2021-22. That included a 41-point, 20-rebound game to wrap the regular season against the Indiana Pacers.

The Cameroonian big man, who is minded about obtaining the French nationality, shared some broader thoughts about the MVP voting process, talking to the US media.

"Obviously, congrats to Nikola, he deserved it. He had an amazing season. There's no right or wrong," said Embiid. "There were a lot of candidates. It could have gone either way. Giannis and Devin Booker being on the best team in the league by far, so I guess every year it's all about whatever you guys decided, whatever fits the narrative as far as who's going to win.

But to me, the only thing I'll say about these awards is that, until, I don't know how to explain it. I go back to what I heard on a podcast. Bill Simmons basically saying 'f--- Jalen Green.' If you're going to allow these types of people to vote on these awards, that's not fair," the 28-year-old continued.

"What if Jalen Green was in a position to earn a supermax, or I don't know, an All-Star appearance? You've got someone sounding like that and has a lot of power. He can sway a lot of other media members and you got someone saying that type of stuff, I don't think it's fair. I don't think it's OK.

That's really the only thing I'll say about those awards. I'm not mad. For the last two years in a row, I've put myself in that position. It didn't happen. It's almost like at this point, it's whatever. Whatever happens, happens.

Philadelphia 76ers / Schedule

Miami Heat Philadelphia 76ers119-103 Philadelphia 76ers Miami Heat99-79 Philadelphia 76ers Miami Heat116-108 Miami Heat Philadelphia 76ers120-85 Philadelphia 76ers Miami HeatThu23:00

Last year I campaigned about it, this year I answered questions when I was asked, and the next, you know, a few years before I retire it's almost like I don't know what else I have to do to win it. To me, it's just whatever. It's all about -- not that I wasn't focusing on the bigger picture but it's really time to really put all my energy into the bigger picture which is to win the whole thing," Embiid concluded.

The Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers also had some words to say on Joel Embiid's MVP candidacy: "I don't know if I could've done more than he did this year, play without the second-best player all year. Listen, his résumé was great. I'm not taking anything away from Jokic either because he's a hell of a player. I do think this whole analytic-driven society, the world is out of control at times with some of the measures that they use. Like, watch the dang game and decide is what I've always said.

But at the end of the day, if Joel had won, which I thought he should have, there would have been criticism that way, if Giannis had won. Only one guy could win, unfortunately," told the specialist.

Last night, the Sixers were demolished by the Miami Heat in Game 5, 85-120. The Miami club grabbed a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, while Embiid was not feeling his best game.

The center finished the duel with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, and had a -29 on his side.

"Embiid is so distracted about this MVP thing, that he's not there tonight. He's not being aggressive, he's throwing the ball away. I wonder who on that is gonna say 'yo man, you're the MVP, we know you're the MVP,'" Charles Barkley commented about the latest Embiid's performance.

Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.