Joel Embiid, center for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Nikola Jokic, center for the Denver Nuggets, have been putting up MVP seasons for their respective teams. I believe they have brought the big man game back by both of them being dominant with their post-up game as well as being great in other areas. Embiid is averaging 29.4 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Jokic is averaging 26.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game.
Embiid and the 76ers are sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference, with them currently being 18-10. He is part of the main reason why his team is standing where they are this season. Embiid has taken criticism over the years for not being assertive enough from fans and analysts such as Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Stephen A. Smith. Last Season, O’Neal called out Embiid for being “soft” when Embiid and his team were going against the Milwaukee Bucks. O’Neal was talking about Embiid not playing with force and being aggressive during the halftime show of that game. Embiid was being called out by O’Neal, saying how he was playing like a baby looking for a foul call on a hook shot when he should’ve been running back on defense. This led to Embiid getting scored on in the paint. Embiid took that criticism and scored 38 points in a game where the 76ers won against the Boston Celtics later that week. I believe all the criticism he has received over the years, especially last season, is what led to him now being in conversations for an MVP.
Jokic and the Nuggets are in seventh place in the Western Conference, with their record being 15-12. He has taken his game to the next level by improving in all areas on the offensive side of things. He is the best passing big man in the game, and he is one of the best dimers in the game in general. Jokic like Embiid, is a strong back-to-the-basket player where he can dominate down low and score on his opponents with ease. Back in the 90s, when you have two players of their caliber, one would want them to be purely superior post-up players like Shaquille O’Neal or Charles Barkley were back when they played. This is because taking three-pointers were attended for only the three-point specialists on the team. However, the game has changed since those last two players have played. Nowadays, every player has to incorporate the three-point shot in their arsenal of ways to score, or they have to specialize in at least defense.
The NBA is now all about the three-pointer, and Jokic and Embiid know that, which is why the three-pointer is an integral component to their respective ways to score the ball. Jokic is shooting 40% from the three-point line, and Embiid is shooting 38% from it. Jokic and Embiid have made sure they’re forces to be reckoned with. Both of them also became more assertive players demanding the ball to score on almost any given possession they can.
The big man is back and what I mean about that is that centers such as Embiid and Jokic have put respect back on to that position. I also have to give credit where credit is due for players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Vucevic, Bam Adebayo, and other big men like these who have helped put centers back into the spotlight. These centers are all the futures of the NBA and are only going to inspire other up-and-coming big men that they can be great just like these players. This is if they take the time to work on their craft and have the same type of drive as these centers have and look to only improve every single day. The last center to win an MVP was Shaquille O’Neal back in the ‘99-2000 season playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jokic or Embiid has a chance to be the next center to win an MVP. It’s only up from here for all big men on the come-up with players such as Embiid and Jokic earning the respect they rightfully deserve and making their position prominent once again.
For more NBA coverage, click here.
