“Joel Embiid is better than Nikola Jokic”: Shaquille O’Neal crowns Sixers superstar with 2021 MVP over Nuggets big man

Shaq takes to NBAonTNT to declare his MVP for the 2021 NBA season; says Joel Embiid is a bit better than Nikola Jokic. 

Going into the 2021 NBA All-Star break, Joel Embiid looked to be in prime position to run away with MVP honors this season. He was the best player on the best team in the Eastern Conference, leading them to the 1st seed. He was doing so while averaging nearly 30 points and 12 rebounds a night. 

However, after having suffered an injury that kept him out for over a month, his case for being the NBA’s Most Valuable Player started to slip. As many preach, “availability is the best ability,” and when looking out West, another big man caught everybody’s eye. 

Nikola Jokic is having an incredible Iron-man season as he is yet to miss a game this season. He upped his points per game by nearly 7 and sits at a career-high points average of 26 while grabbing 11 boards and dishing out a whopping 8 assists a night. 

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With the Denver Nuggets holding a top 4 seed in the loaded West, many voters have steered clear of Embiid and decided that Jokic is the clear-cut favorite for MVP. 

Shaq disagrees with nay-sayers as he claims Joel Embiid is the MVP over Nikola Jokic. 

In a recent poll that included all 101 voters that were eligible to vote for this season’s MVP, all but 11 voters decided to vote for Nikola Jokic. Shaq seemed to be in the minority here as he took to NBAonTNT to say that if he had a vote, he would most certainly cast it towards Joel Embiid. 

“I’d give it to Joel Embiid right now. He’s playing the game like he’s supposed to be playing, He’s leading, rebounding, playing inside, and he’s having fun out there.”

“His ppg is more than the Joker’s and he’s a little bit better. He’ll be a 10 and the Joker will be a 9.9762541, they’re very close. If you ask me for my opinion, I would go Joel Embiid this year.”

“He’s playing the game like he’s supposed to play”
@SHAQ says he’d take Embiid over Jokic for Kia MVP. pic.twitter.com/XRi81YXf8A

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 22, 2021

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The MVP this year all depends on what the voters value most. If availability and suiting up each and every night is what’s needed for them to cast a vote, then Jokic is clearly the MVP. Both post similar stats and are equally as valuable to their teams. However, with Jamal Murray out for the season, the Nuggets probably need Jokic more now, when compared to Philly needing Embiid. 

Joel Embiid does however, as highlighted by him when on the Lowe Post, play on both sides of the ball. Jokic’s defensive lapses have been greatly exaggerated as he is not as bad as the media makes him look. However, in comparison to Embiid’s defense, it isn’t comparable. 

With Joel profusely claiming he is the MVP this season, and Jokic seemingly not caring about the award one bit, the race will be enticing to follow all the way up until their last games.