Joel Embiid outdueled fellow large man Nikola Jokic on the court docket, but it surely’s what he did afterwards that has ruffled just a few feathers.
Reigning Finals MVP Jokic and reigning common season MVP Embiid met for the primary time this season on Tuesday night time.
Embiid received the higher of the Serbian celebrity on the night time as he recorded 41 factors, seven rebounds and ten assists whereas main the Sixers to a 126-121 win.
Regardless of the loss, Jokic nonetheless managed 24 factors and 19 rebounds, persevering with his ultra-consistent file for the season.
After the sport, Embiid referred to as Jokic the perfect participant within the league throughout his post-game interview, which didn’t sit nicely with NBA analyst Richard Jefferson.
“Look, should you’re the reigning MVP, he’s the reigning MVP,” Jefferson stated on NBA Today. “Even Giannis stated it. Look if you win the MVP, should you win the Finals MVP, you may give him credit score in that second. However to go and play in opposition to this man, and we all know how shut they’re, and like ‘Look, he’s the perfect participant on the earth’, you’re telling me as your teammate that after we step on, we’ve received the second-best participant on the ground or not less than that’s your mentality. You’re saying it to the world…You probably have horrible playoff performances, I don’t wish to hear you bigging up anyone else.”
Jefferson’s fellow analyst, Austin Rivers, agreed wholeheartedly.
“I don’t prefer it in any respect,” Rivers stated. “I really like humility however (that was) from the mistaken man. Not him. He’s a man, first off individuals are going to make use of this in opposition to him after they evaluate him. They’re so near a participant that like why would you even give that one up? I simply don’t prefer it.”
Apparently, the 2 analysts who by no means had a profession within the NBA – Michael Wilbon and Zach Lowe, applauded Embiid for his type phrases and show of graciousness in the direction of his rival.
READ MORE: Josh Giddey Remains Under Review by the NBA: Report
