NBA superstar Joel Embiid is leading the NBA MVP race this season. After missing out on the award in the last two seasons to Nikola Jokic, Embiid is relentless this time. Despite being the first center since Shaquille O’Neal to win the scoring title last year, he did not win the MVP award. He is again leading the league in scoring averaging 33.3 ppg with a FG% of 54.5. As the regular season is in its final stretch, the anticipation about the MVP award and the playoffs is on the rise. Amidst this, Embiid has given a candid interview where he stated that he believes he is a “monster”.

Despite the loss, Embiid erupted for 46 points recently against the Golden State Warriors. The Cameroonian then said to Draymond Green that his comment Nikola Jokic was the hardest player to guard fueled him. Green revealed this and then noted that Embiid is indeed the hardest to guard. So it is apparent Embiid is taking this rivalry very seriously.

Joel Embiid on his focus for the season

Joel Embiid recently sat down with Shams Charania of The Athletic for an interview. During the sit-down, the reigning scoring champion opened up about the MVP race, the playoffs, etc. Even though Embiid wants to be better than Nikola Jokic, his focus is not on the MVP award. Embiid revealed that his focus is to be healthy and help his team win a title. Furthermore, he added that he even advised Jayson Tatum to do the same. He stated, “The only way I’m going to get that respect is by winning a championship. Whatever gets me to the playoffs healthy, that’s what I’ve got to do.”

In one instance, the host asked him about his partnership with superstar James Harden and about running the pick and roll efficiently. Embiid noted that he never had any problem playing with Harden because both have high basketball IQs. He said, “I’d like to believe that I’m a f—ing monster. I got a high basketball IQ, and he does too. So when you have two guys that have high basketball IQs, it’s easier to figure things out.”

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Charania then asked him about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s comments on the ever-changing criteria for the MVP award. Notably, the Greek Freak is in the MVP race as well.

Embiid wants to be remembered as a “monster” 

Joel Embiid agreed with Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s comments. He then talked about the reasons he was told for not securing the award in the past two seasons. The center stated that he does not care about winning it. However, he expressed that every year there was one reason or the other. He added that he has been telling what Giannis said for a long time as well.

He said, “People always thought that I was crazy when I said this — I really believe that I’m not well-liked. And it’s cool with me, that’s fine. I’ll be the bad guy. I like being the a–hole anyway. I like being the underdog. So that’s fine with me.”

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The six-time NBA All-Star feels his opinions are brushed aside because he is not liked by many. However, he is not worried about that and likes being the “bad guy”. He stated he wants to be remembered as a “monster” on both ends of the court even if he never wins a title.