Sixers’ Joel Embiid Issues Honest Statement on MVP Race in 2024

For the first time in a few years, Joel Embiid is not in the NBA’s MVP race as the regular season winds down.

Unfortunately for the Philadelphia 76ers’ big man, a lack of availability due to a meniscus injury took Embiid out of the running.

In the eyes of the one-time Most Valuable Player, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“I’m happy I’m not in that conversation,” Embiid told reporters last Thursday night following the team’s win on the road against the Miami Heat. “That conversation has been toxic for a long time.”

Embiid found himself in one of the NBA’s most debated conversations over the last few years. With voters and fans having a strong opinion on the race, which has been headlined Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Embiid for the three years, Embiid seemingly grew tired of the debates.

This season, he doesn’t have to worry about it and can instead watch from afar. And as much as he hated the “toxic” part of the battle, he feels this year’s MVP race is lacking excitement from a personal standpoint.

“I’ll be honest, this year has been kind of boring,” he added. “There’s not enough toxicity going around. It’s pretty fun, and at some point, it’s pretty bad, too. I’m glad I’m not nowhere near that. I’m just focused on getting back healthy. Obviously, all great candidates that all deserve to win. It’s just unfortunate that one person has to win.”

Before his season was taken off track with a meniscus injury, which required surgery, Embiid was on pace to be an MVP finalist for the fourth year in a row. His 34-game stretch, where he averaged 35 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and two blocks had Embiid at the front of the line once again.

Just a few games into his recovery, Embiid was deemed ineligible for seasonal awards as he was guaranteed to miss the 65-game minimum requirement.