Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have been playing at MVP level all season, but in a recent stretch of games they have turned it into overdrive mode.
The two big men have been putting up historical numbers and carrying their teams night in and night out.
Jokic is on pace to put up averages never before seen in modern NBA History of 25/13/6. The only other player to outdo those averages was none other than All-Time Great, Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt holds the record for the highest PER (player efficiency rating) in NBA History of 32.1. Nikola Jokic currently has a PER of 33.2.
Jokic has the chance to have THE best offensive season in NBA history.
On the other side you have Joel Embiid dropping 50 points in a mere 27 minutes… this is right next to Klay Thompson’s record for the most points scored in the least amount of minutes played (52 points in 27 minutes).
But what’s even more impressive about it is that Joel Embiid made only 1 three-pointer that game. Embiid went old-school and took over inside the paint against Orlando. He shot 16/19 from the field and made 17 of 19 free throws.
Can Nikola Jokic go Back-to-Back?
Nikola Jokic won MVP last season with 91/100 First Place votes. He put up ridiculous averages of 26.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 8.3 APG. His player efficiency rating was 31.3 (#1 in the league). He also ranked first in Win Shares at .301. Not only that, but he lead the league in overall +/- with a +11.7 when he was on the floor.
Nikola Jokic was without question the most valuable player. The Nuggets finished 3rd in the Western Conference with a record of 47-25 last season.
With that being said, Nikola Jokic may be putting up even better numbers this season than his MVP season.
Nikola Jokic has been without his co-star Jamal Murray all year, as well as Michael Porter Jr. So he has had more of a load to carry this season. Jokic has averaged 26.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, and 7.6 APG so far. He has managed to put up practically the same numbers as his MVP season but has improved his rebounding. Jokic is also on pace to surpass his ratings in all other categories mentioned above.
His player efficiency rating has taken a step up to 33.2, his +/- rating has taken a leap to +14.2, and he is leading the league in triple-doubles with 11. This guy is the most important player for his team right now. The Nuggets are currently 6th in the West with a record of 24-21.
Recent stretch boosts Embiid’s MVP odds
Joel Embiid is in a familiar spot, right behind Nikola Jokic in MVP votes. He finished second to Nikola last season.
Joel Embiid has taken his play to another level this past month, proving to the world that he can easily be considered the best player in the world.
The 76ers have won 11 of their last 14 games and it is largely due to Joel. Over that stretch, Joel has averaged 34.1 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 4.3 APG – in 31.7 MPG. This has always been the amazing factor in measuring Joel’s averages. He doesn’t play nearly as many minutes as most of the other stars around the league.
Joel Embiid has had more points than minutes in his last 4 games.
38 points in 31 minutes
40 points in 37 minutes
50 points in 27 minutes
32 points in 29 minutesWe’ll keep him as our pfp as long as he keeps doing it. pic.twitter.com/XqLdhvmfjw
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 24, 2022
With the Ben Simmons ordeal still looming around the 76ers, Philadelphia GM Daryl Morrey believes that even without a deal being made before the deadline – Joel Embiid can lead this 76ers team to an NBA title.
While I’m sure Joel would love to receive the MVP award, he wants nothing more than to bring a title to Philadelphia.
