Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic praised his leading contender for this year’s gong, Joel Embiid after the Denver Nuggets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-111 on Monday.
The star centers are the likely favourites for this year’s MVP, with Embiid boosting his case with a recent run of 30-point games, while Jokic’s Nugs have dipped in form.
Embiid missed Monday’s game due to a right calf injury, while Jokic recorded his 29th triple-double of the season.
“I think he’s a great player,” Jokic said of Embiid.
“I think he’s gonna be remembered as one of the most dominant players in the league. The guy’s a beast, and he’s so talented.
“He can affect (the game) many ways on the floor. He can post up, he can face up, he can shoot threes.
“He can defend really well. He can, in some situations, guard 1 through 5. So he’s a really, really good player.”
Jokic compiled 25 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists in Monday’s game as looks for a third straight MVP.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers weighed in on the MVP race, nominating even Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo and Celtics star Jayson Tatum among the candidates.
“The league is in a great place,” Rivers said. “It’s in an amazing place. You’ve got Joel Embiid and Joker, two centers, in a non-center league, dominating the league.
“You’ve got Giannis, and I always put him as a whatever, because we don’t know what (position) Giannis is, but he’s one of the best players in the league.
“Jayson Tatum is playing unbelievable. Kevin Durant, if he wasn’t hurt. You can just keep going.
“You can like them all, and you can actually not like one because you love the other one. But you don’t have to hate on anybody.
“I think we just need to get back to judging whatever your flavor is, and I don’t think you have to hate the other one, for sure.”
