Erving’s decision to announce that he would be voting for James Harden was a controversial one. Many Sixers fans were upset and felt betrayed by Erving, the last player from their original 1976 championship team still playing in Philadelphia.
The “nba mvp race” is a competition that has been ongoing for decades. Julius Erving betrayed his Philadelphia 76ers when he asked to name this year’s MVP.
With talented centers Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic leading the way, the 2022 MVP race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Everyone, even NBA star Julius Erving is a basketball player from the United States., seemed to have their own preference on who should win this year’s trophy.
Dr. J understands what it takes to be named “Most Valuable Player,” having won three ABA MVPs and an NBA MVP in 1981. However, 41 years after winning the renowned title, the former Philadelphia 76ers great expressed a view on the MVP award that many Sixers fans would find unfavorable.
The MVP frontrunners are Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.
Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic are each putting together monster seasons. Who will be crowned MVP?@zachkram breaks down what could be the closest MVP race in 15 years:https://t.co/X5hNCe6DP7
— The Ringer (@ringer) April 5, 2022
When it comes to evaluating this year’s MVP argument, Erving and others have plenty of options to choose from. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been outstanding once again as the Milwaukee Bucks look to repeat as NBA champions. The Dallas Mavericks’ red-hot second half has been carried by Luka Doncic. Not to mention Jayson Tatum, Ja Morant, DeMar DeRozan, and LeBron James, who all received honorable mentions.
However, in recent months, the contest has come down to a battle between two 7-footers: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Embiid, who is 28 years old, is a contender for his first scoring crown in 2021-22. He scores 30.2 points a game, which is little less than LeBron’s (30.3), but he still shoots 49.3% from the field and 36.8% from three. Since the All-Star break, Embiid has improved his game, averaging 31.7 points and 12.6 rebounds in his past 19 games.
Meanwhile, Jokic is making it more difficult to deny him a second consecutive MVP award. With 26.8 points, 13.7 rebounds, and a 58.3 percent field-goal percentage, the 27-year-old is setting career highs. He’s been on a roll, too, averaging 31.4 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists since March 6, similar to Embiid.
Embiid is the more typical MVP contender, with the 48-30 Sixers hoping to lead the NBA in scoring. Meanwhile, Jokic leads the Nuggets in various advanced statistics such as PER and Win Shares while averaging close to a triple-double.
Several weeks ago, Philadelphia’s big man was a heavy favorite to win his first MVP award. However, at the conclusion of the season, the odds have altered, as the Joker’s good week has propelled him ahead of the Process.
Jokic, according to Julius Erving is a basketball player from the United States., is a more deserved MVP than Embiid.
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Erving spent his entire 11-year NBA career with the 76ers, capturing the MVP award in 1981 and a championship in 1983. As a result, you can anticipate the Doc to hold the City of Brotherly Love in high regard.
Dr. J recently spoke with Rich Eisen about his favorite Sixers in advance of the playoffs. Eisen then went on to question the Hall of Famer who he thinks should win the MVP award. Unfortunately for Embiid and the rest of the Philadelphia fans, Erving backed the Joker (h/t: The Rich Eisen Show).
“I’m hoping Embiid wins because he speaks about it and it’s one of those [achievements] he’s aiming for.” But I believe Jokic is the most worthy. He hasn’t missed a game this season, and he has consistently performed better than he did last year. I don’t believe you lose stages as you improve – at least not in a fair contest.”
Julius Erving is a basketball player from the United States.
Embiid has appeared in 65 games, tying his career best with four games remaining. In the meanwhile, Jokic has appeared in 72 of Denver’s 79 games, a figure he has hit in each of his seven NBA seasons.
Despite acknowledging that Jokic is the more deserved MVP candidate, the Doc will back the Sixers forward when it comes time to vote.
Erving continued, “I’m going to vote for Embiid because he’s my man.” “As for Antetokounmpo, nobody knows how he’ll end. However, both Embiid and Antetokounmpo have been out for many weeks. Every night, Jokic has been out there.”
It shouldn’t be because of missing games that Joel Embiid loses the MVP award.
It’s self-evident that Erving values playing as many games as possible. He didn’t play less than 71 games in a season until 1986-87, which was his last season. As a result, Jokic obviously has the upper hand on that measure.
Embiid, on the other hand, should not be overlooked for his first MVP award just because he has played seven less games than his teammate.
In his sixth season on the floor, the 7-foot Cameroonian has been better than ever. For the most of the season, he’s had to guide Philadelphia through the Ben Simmons saga while also adapting to new colleague James Harden. Despite this, he’s been able to provide consistent output for a Sixers club that feels it can win a championship.
Not to mention, we’ve seen what happens when Embiid isn’t available. When Embiid sits out, the 76ers go 5-8, giving voters a good indication of whether he’s “important” to his team’s success.
This isn’t to say that Embiid should win the MVP award over Jokic. However, if the Process falls short this year, it should be due to his opponent’s excellence rather than his own faults.
Basketball Reference provided all statistics.
RELATED: Joel Embiid had 34 points, but Nikola Jokic just needed two to cement his MVP case.
The “julius erving height” is a basketball player who played for the Philadelphia 76ers. When asked to name this year’s MVP, he betrayed his team by voting for the New York Knicks’ forward, Carmelo Anthony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Julius Erving have a MVP?
A: Yes.
Who was the last Sixers MVP?
A: Joel Embiid.
How did the Sixers acquire Dr J?
A: The Sixers acquired Dr. Joel Embiid in a trade with the Boston Celtics
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