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Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid seem to be linked at the hip like some of the greatest rivalries of all time. Although there doesn't seem to be any animosity between the two, the fact that both men have been the frontrunners for MVP in recent years has made them rivals.
This year, after winning two back-to-back MVP awards, Nikola Jokic finished in second place behind Joel Embiid. Despite that, it's Jokic who has seemingly surged ahead in the debate regarding which man is the better player given his postseason performances.
With his team up 2-1 in the NBA Finals, and the record for most triple-doubles in one postseason, Jokic is being hailed as one of the best players in the world. According to former NFL player Keyshawn Johnson, however, he still believes that it's Embiid's two-way play that gives him the edge.
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Johnson, who appears on ESPN's First Take, spoke Thursday morning in a segment that has earned him plenty of criticism from fans. After one viewer took to Twitter to relay Johnson's pick of Embiid over Jokic, the hoops community began firing insults and hot takes.
Looking at the stats of Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic
Given that the MVP award is based on regular season performances, and Jokic's dominance in the playoffs doesn't factor into MVP voting, let's look at the stats.
This season, Joel Embiid played in 66 games, while averaging 34.6 minutes per game, a career-high for the 76ers star. During that time, the Philadelphia 76ers posted the third-best record in the Eastern Conference with 54 wins and 28 losses.
In addition, Embiid posted a career-high efficiency with 54.8% shooting from the floor on 33.1 points per game, showcasing a notable improvement.
While his three-point shooting percentage and his rebounding averages took a dip compared to last season, Embiid improved at the line. Last season he averaged 81.4% from the free throw line, while this season he averaged 85.7%.
On the defensive end of the ball, Embiid separated himself from the competition, posting an average of 1.7 blocks per game, and 1.0 steals per game. Of course, as many have been quick to point out regarding Keyshawn Johnson's claims, defense is more than just blocks per game, as Nikola Jokic has shown.
On the flip side of things, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets posted the best record in the Western Conference with 53 wins and 29 losses. During that time, Jokic appeared in 69 games for the team, averaging 33.7mpg.
(Suggested Reading: Isiah Thomas praises Nikola Jokic)
Similarly to Embiid, Jokic improved on his efficiency, posting a career-high 63.2% field goal percentage. At the same time, he also improved his efficiency from beyond the arc, averaging 38.3% from three compared to 33.7% last season.
On the offensive side of things, Jokic averaged 24.5ppg, 9.8apg, and 11.8rpg. On the defensive end of the floor, Jokic averaged 1.2 steals per game, and .7 blocks per game, numbers that aren't that far off from Embiid.
Whether or not Jokic and the Nuggets winning a championship will sway Johnson, only time will tell.
(Suggested Reading: Jokic thinks Embiid deserved MVP)
