Joel Embiid is coming off the best season of his career. For the first time since entering the NBA, he was durable and stayed on the court for most of the season, ending all concerns about his multiple injuries.
Embiid was one of the leading MVP candidates throughout the year, dominating on both ends of the floor. Eventually, however, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic wonthe award for the second straight season.
Unsurprisingly, the Philadelphia 76ers big manwas far from satisfied with the voting outcome. Still, he congratulated Jokic for his accomplishment despite showing his frustration with the situation.
Embiid Doesnāt Know What Else He Has To Do
āObviously, congrats to Nikola, he deserved it, he had an amazing season,ā Embiid said. āThereās no right or wrong, there was a lot of candidates.There was a lot of candidates. I donāt know what else I have to do to win itā¦ At this point, itās whatever.ā
āIt could have gone either way,ā Embiid added. āGiannis, Devin Booker being on the best team in the league by far, so I guess every year itās all about whatever you guys decide, whatever fits the narrative as far as whoās going to win.ā
The Ring Is All That Matters
However, itās not like winning MVP was the only thing on Embiidās mind this season. He didnāt campaign to win the award and was only focused on the bigger picture: Winning an NBA championship:
āIām not mad, the last two years in a row Iāve put myself in that position, it didnāt happen,ā Embiid said. āLast year I campaigned about it, this year I answered questions when I was asked, and the next, you know, few years before I retire itās almost like, I donāt know what else I have to do to win it. Itās really time to put all my energy into the bigger picture, which is to win the whole thing.ā
Embiid will need to channel his inner Shaq and Hakeem to turn the series vs. the Miami Heat around. The Philadelphia 76ers face elimination after falling to a 2-3 hole in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
