This year, [Joel Embiid]] was named the MVP, finally overtaking Nikola Jokic after coming in second place for 2021 and 2022.
Fresh off his win, Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics after seven games with Embiid shooting 5-for-18 in Game 7.
Jokic, on the other hand, led the Denver Nuggets to a sweep against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
This latest performance by Jokic had Shaq O’Neal speaking up. In ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq’, he said:
“Joker is the best center…He’s changed the game of basketball, but he is playing like, I think a new-wave center should play. Five years ago all the centers were just shooting jumpers…Joker is the best big man and he’d proven that.”
“He’s still here…listen, there was a lot of people that were MVP over me, ain’t no way they’re better than me. Some people got three MVPs and I got one and Kobe got one so would you say those players are better than me and Kobe? I doubt it.”
“Matter of fact, I know they ain’t. Embiid is the MVP, but in those playoffs, all the highlights we showed was him shooting jumpers. That’s the definition I think of what a new age center should do. I see him and it’s not 3s, 3s, 3s, pick-and-pop, pick-and-pop. Joker? You see it all.”
O’Neal’s comments do appear to have some merit. Embiid averaged 23.7 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 43.1% from the floor and 17.9% from deep in the playoffs. While Jokic had 29.9 points, 10.3 assists, and 13.3 rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the floor and 47.4% from deep during this postseason run.
Granted, Embiid was dealing with an LCL sprain.
