“Nikola Jokic is more of a motivation to win the whole thing”: Joel Embiid Opens Up After the 47/18/5 Performance in a Win Amidst All-Star Starters Snub

As Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets visited Philly Saturday night, Joel Embiid, this year’s biggest snub among the 2023 All-Star game starters, made sure he was all prepared to put up a show against the leader in the MVP race and the #1 team in the West.

And man, did he not pull it off to perfection! The Sixers’ big man went for 47 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 126-119 win, while the Joker could come up with 24/8/9 in a statement game. It was a tremendous performance on its own but was just not enough to win the game.

Also read: “Playing against Nikola Jokic is Joel Embiid’s Super Bowl”: ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne Reveals Sixers Star’s Excitement For Nuggets Game

Joel Embiid says Nikola Jokic is the motivation to win it all

It was one thing if the 5x All-Star had just dominated the game on offense and the board like the Nuggets’ MVP, but Joel was a menace on defense as well coming up with 3 steals and 2 blocks.

In the post-game presser, Embiid talked about if playing against 2x MVP Nikola Jokic adds any added motivation, having lost to him as a runner-up in both those years.

“Not necessarily,” Embiid said after the game according to Sixers Wire. “I’m used to it. It’s not the first time. I think he’s more of a motivation to go out and try to win the whole thing, I guess that’s the only way I’m probably gonna get that respect. I think we got to pretty good chance. You play the best team in the West down 15 points or something like that, and to come back and to be able to win the game, that gives us a lot of confidence.”

Well, if indeed Embiid and the Sixers make it out of the East, and the Joker and the Nuggets do the same in the West, could become the best NBA Finals we have seen in a while.

Also read: WATCH: Fans Go Crazy as Nikola Jokic Breaks Incredible Nuggets Record With 3686 Assists en-route to Entertaining Win Over Wolves

How good are Nuggets at home?

One thing about Jokic’s team this season, they have been their record in Denver. They are 22-4, the Grizzlies (20-3) and the Cavaliers (20-5) are the closest to them.

If the Nuggets do make it out of the Western Conference this season, it will be a lot tougher for the team from the East to win the Championship if they don’t have a better record.

So, Joel Embiid and Doc Rivers must be keeping that in mind as well. They have the same number of losses (16) as the Nuggets after handing them the recent L but have played 2 lesser games, collecting 34 wins. Only the Boston Celtics have a better record than these two in the league currently.

Also read: “How Can Joel Embiid, an MVP Candidate, Not Be a Starter?!”: Skip Bayless Rages About Picking Jayson Tatum Over Sixers Star

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

Read More