“Nikola Jokić is my childhood hero”: Joel Embiid hilariously forgets he’s a year older than the Joker

Joel Embiid calls Nikola Jokić his childhood hero. However, the Philadelphia big man is a year older than the Joker.

It would not be wrong to say that the 2020-21 NBA season brought the era of big men back that was otherwise becoming a guard-dominated league.

Players such as Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić, and Giannis Antentokoumpo were the pioneers of this movement. The 3 superstars had great seasons individually.

Embiid and Jokić were neck-to-neck in the race for the 2020-21 regular season MVP. However, the Joker from the Denver Nuggets was crowned MVP, with Embiid finishing as the runner-up.

Embiid’s knee injury was one of the major reasons that cost him the MVP award. The Philidelphia center was out for 21-games during the 2020-21 season.

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Embiid has always been a fan of the Joker and has had great respect for his talent. While heaping praises about the Nuggets star, Embiid calls him his childhood hero but forgets he’s a year older than the latter.

Joel Embiid calls Nikola Jokić his childhood hero

Both Embiid and Jokić had a great 2020-21 season individually as well as for their team. While Philly finished as the 1st seed in the eastern conference, the Nuggets sat at a comfortable 3rd position in a stacked western conference.

Embiid, who finished as a runner-up to Jokić for the regular-season MVP, averaged 28.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and 1.4 BPG. The 4x All-Star shot an impressive 51.3% from the field, 37.7% from the 3-point line, and 85.9% from the free-throw line.

The 2020-21 MVP Nikola Jokić averaged 26.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 8.3 APG on a 56.6% shooting from the field, 38.8% from the 3-point line, and 86.8% from the free-throw line.

During a press conference, Embiid was seen heaping praises of the Joker.

“He’s great. Like I’ve been saying, I’m a big fan. He’s my childhood hero, so I watch him all the time. I like his game and – you know – I… just like him,” Embiid said.

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Embiid is one of the funniest and joyful players in the NBA currently. The Philly center is often seen trash-talking on the court and taking jibes at his opponents.

Though it seemed unintentional, Embiid had forgotten that he was a year older than the joker as he called the latter his childhood hero.