NBA Media personalities and followers alike have prompt that Joel Embiid is purposely ducking video games in opposition to the very best groups and the massive man has addressed the notion immediately.
“I don’t know the place that got here from,” Embiid mentioned after the 76ers’ 124-115 win over the Rockets on Monday. “That’s humorous as a result of each single staff that I play in opposition to, I believe I dominated and we win and I put up numbers essential to win. I believe that’s why you possibly can’t learn an excessive amount of into it, as a result of one of many primary issues that I see is that as quickly as you employ the title, ‘Joel Embiid’, that’s gonna get you lots of likes, and that’s gonna get you some huge cash. So so long as my title has an opportunity to assist any individual make some cash, then I’m for it. Preserve trolling. I prefer it. I like it.”
The reigning MVP missed three straight video games for Philly with a knee damage, however returned in fantastic kind in opposition to Houston after notching 41 factors on 12-21 capturing and ten rebounds.
The issue is, he has missed a good bit of time this season already on account of varied illnesses together with the flu and an ankle damage.
An NBA participant should play in at the least 65 video games to qualify for an end-of-season award, which means he can solely miss eight extra video games out of the final 44 earlier than he’s not eligible for MVP.
However Embiid says he’s extra targeted on the place he facet might be come playoffs.
“I’ve already achieved it,” Embiid mentioned. “If I’ve an opportunity to get a second one, I’ll do it. I’m not going to pressure myself or push for it. My recreation is at all times going to talk for itself. We’re profitable. That’s the primary factor. We’ve obtained to maintain profitable and you set within the stats to be within the [MVP] dialog that’s nice, too. However on the finish of the day, if there’s one thing occurring, and I can’t meet the requirement for the quantity of video games performed to qualify for that, then so be it.”
One recreation he isn’t ducking is in opposition to Denver on Tuesday, the place he might be going up in opposition to fellow MVP-caliber middle Nikola Jokic.
“They’re finest staff within the league, finest participant within the league and we’ve obtained to try to do our greatest to get a win,” Embiid mentioned of the Nuggets. “It’s enjoyable. I just like the competitors. Who doesn’t need to play in opposition to the very best?”
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