The Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets had an incredible match last night where the former emerged victorious. Sixers star Joel Embiid’s marvelous display of skills not only won them the match but also outshined the Jokers’ performance. By putting up 41 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds, the 6x All-Star sealed the deal for his team and tipped the scales of the MVP title a little toward him.

However, the Serbian Sensation was not slacking in any way. He managed to achieve a double-double with 25 points, 19 rebounds, and 3 assists. So, looking at these two exceptional athletes go head to head, Stephen A. Smith did a detailed comparison of the two. According to the stats, Smith pointed out that Embiid is ahead of Jokic in points per game, and is right there with him in rebounds even though he has played 10 games less than the Joker. However, when it comes to durability, Smith said that there is no competition for Jokic. He said, “Nobody can stop him, I still can’t figure it out. He’s just a big tub of lard that just leans his body on you.”

Smith further went on to compare Jokic with the Gypsy King Tyson Fury and said, “Every time I think about Jokic, I think about Tyson Fury fighting Deonte Wilder. ‘Even when I miss I am just going to lean on him and eventually, his legs are going to give out and he’s going to be a stationary target for me.'” That’s what Fury said when he beat Wilder in the trilogy and Smith said that Jokic’s game style is exactly like that.

The 28-year-old center is a big man who weighs 284 lbs and does not have an athletic physic just like Tyson Fury. But even with his big body, he is able to tire opponents out and play heavy minutes. In the 2019 playoffs against the Trail Blazers, he logged in 65 minutes of playing time showing his unbelievable endurance. That’s what makes him an exceptional player and even Embiid acknowledges that about Jokic and calls him the best player in the league.

Joel Embiid considers Nikola Jokic to be the best

Despite the tough battle, Embiid had high praise for Nikola Jokic, the NBA Finals MVP and leader of the league’s best squad. The 6x All-Star said in the post-match interview that he believes Jokic is the greatest player in the NBA. The mutual respect between the two players was clear, with Embiid expressing his excitement for their future encounter.

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At the moment, the ongoing matches between Embiid and Jokic continue to intrigue NBA fans, highlighting their position as two of the league’s top players. As both clubs aim to win the title, the prospect of a thrilling NBA Finals matchup between the 76ers and the Nuggets adds an extra layer to their friendly animosity.

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