“MVP wasn’t supposed to be mine”: Joel Embiid reveals his readiness in leading the Sixers to playoff battles despite his knee injury in March

Sixers star Joel Embiid reveals his honest opinion on his part in the MVP race alongside Nuggets star Nikola Jokic this season.

Joel Embiid is about as loud-mouthed as they come. While his abilities on both ends of the floor are among the best in the league, he doesn’t simply rely on that.

Instead, he also chooses to include trash talk in his game, to both throw off his opponents and motivate him to crush them at the same time. And because of this, the player has garnered a certain reputation, and crowned with the nickname of ‘Troell.’

With that in mind, the 76ers star did something that has surprised many. In a recent interview with ESPN senior writer Ramona Shelburne, Embiid revealed his thoughts on this year’s MVP race. And, considering the player’s image, his statement was far from expected.

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Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid accepts that he could lose the MVP race to Nikola Jokic this season

Many fans may have forgotten it by now, but Embiid was initially the front runner in the MVP race. However, in the middle of the season, the player suffered a scary-looking knee injury.

Initially many feared it was an ACL or meniscal tear. However, many were able to breathe a sigh of relief after it was revealed the injury wasn’t anything more than a bone bruise.

Still, an injury is an injury. And Joel Embiid had to miss some significant time, giving Nikola Jokic the lead. However, unlike what many would expect, the player was surprisingly accepting of his circumstances.

In his recent interview with Ramona Shelburne, this is what he had to say:

“If the MVP wasn’t supposed to be mine this year, I guess maybe it is not. But maybe that’s what keeps me healthy to make sure I’m ready for the playoffs.”

Despite it being slightly out of correct from Joel, this reply will give 76ers fans some hope. Embiid is undoubtedly having his best season ever. If the player can just stay healthy, the franchise stands a massive chance to at least make the NBA finals this year. And it never hurts to have a little extra motivation to achieve that.

Also Read: Udonis Haslem unapologetic for his altercation that caused his ejection in Heat vs Sixers

About the author

Tonoy Sengupta

Tonoy Sengupta is a Senior Editor at The SportsRush. Coming from an athletically inclined family, he has been surrounded by sports ever since he was 4 years old. But, while initially pouring all his time into Football (soccer), at 14, Tonoy discovered basketball through the countless highlights of Stephen Curry humiliating players from Curry Land. And just like that, a fiery passion for the game was ignited within Tonoy. And soon after, he decided to become a student of journalism, graduating in 2022, and choosing sports as his area of interest. Today, you can find him spending 99% of his time browsing through every type of content on every team in the NBA, before uncorking everything he has found to the world. In the 1% he isn't doing this, you can find him playing Basketball, Football, Volleyball, or practically any other sport he has had the opportunity to learn.

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