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With Joel Embiid set to miss multiple weeks following an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee, he won't be able to repeat as NBA MVP or make the All-NBA team. That's because of the new 65-game participation rule. Although he made the team in five of the past six seasons, the door is open for someone to take his place.
Embiid, who would have made his seventh All-Star Game appearance as a starter this month, was building a strong case to be a first-team All-NBA selection for the second consecutive season.
Embiid, who played 34 of 49 games this season, is expected to miss significant time, rendering him ineligible for awards. The absence of the center, who is averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists, also dents the Philadelphia 76ers' chances at making a deep playoff run.
With Embiid facing ineligibility, the writers and broadcasters who vote for the All-NBA team, will have to find another. Here are three replacements likely to get the nod.
3 Joel Embiid replacements for All-NBA nods after the 76ers star becomes ineligible
#3. Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
Stats: 23.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 5.1 apg
Paolo Banchero bagged Rookie of the Year last season and has led the Magic to a .540 record — something that the NBA world didn't see coming – this season.
The forward has played a key role in Magic's 27-23 record, which sees them seventh in the East. Banchero was selected as an All-Star reserve and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 26. The rising star has played all 50 games, and is the wild-card choice to replace Joel Embiid.
#2. Kristaps Porzingis (Boston Celtics)
Stats: 19.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.9 bpg
Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Boston Celtics in June, who hoped that the big would be the focal point of their defense this season. The big has done just that, and his efforts have translated to the C's becoming the league's best team as they hold the best record across both conferences.
He's been integral in making Boston one of the top three teams defensively, and he's lethal on offense, with 19.6 ppg backing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. If there is another big in contention to replace Joel Embiid, Porzingis is a name to watch out for.
#1. Anthony Davis (LA Lakers)
Stats: 24.7 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 3.7 apg and 2.4 bpg
Anthony Davis has been the star for the LA Lakers. The center has taken on the responsibility of being the team's main weapon on both ends of the floor, even as LeBron James continues to produce at an elite level at 39. Davis' third triple-double in the team's recent win over Charlotte makes him one of the key contenders for Defensive Player of the Year.
And unlike his usual injury issues that see him miss a sizeable chunk of games each season, Davis has logged 48 games this season, missing just four. This makes him one of the ideal candidates to replace Joel Embiid.
