As Ben Simmons decided not to suit up with the Philadelphia 76ers and finally leave the franchise, the hopes of the Sixers’ fanbase fell wholly on Joel Embiid. However, one must remember that Embiid is not your average NBA player. He stepped up to the challenge and grasped it with both hands.

In fact, before he got James Harden by his side, Embiid was the biggest reason behind the Sixers’ strong standing in the Eastern Conference this season.

Additionally, Embiid’s dominance this season has led to his inclusion in MVP discussions. As per the current ‘Kia Race to the MVP Ladder‘, Embiid is among the top contenders for the prize. However, the one star that stands in his way to achieving the award is Denver’s Nikola Jokic. In light of this, Stephen A. Smith explained how Jokic still has the advantage over Embiid.

Stephen A. Smith on Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic

During a recent episode of ‘Stephen A.’s World‘, Smith explained how Embiid has ‘cracks’ in his case for the MVP.

“Joel Embiid’s MVP case is starting to show cracks, big enough that Philadelphia might make it a damn tourist attraction,” said Smith.

“Let’s be honest. Nikola Jokic got the better of Joel Embiid on Monday night. The reigning league MVP knocked off his supposed biggest challenger in Philadelphia,” he added.

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Thereafter, Smith spoke about how Jokic was carrying his team to success despite the absence of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. In comparison, he stated that Embiid lost by 48 points to the Boston Celtics prior to Harden’s first game as a 76er. Moreover, he also stated how the Embiid-Harden duo was clobbered by the Brooklyn Nets at home.

In Conclusion

Following Denver’s comeback win over the Sixers, Smith believes that Jokic has the advantage over Embiid simply because the Sixers are only beating weaker teams and losing to the powerhouses. As things stand, it looks like Jokic could win the award once again, according to Smith.

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However, not all hope is lost. With 15 games left for the Sixers and 13 for the Nuggets, Embiid has 2 more opportunities to prove that he is the MVP. In fact, some of the remaining games are against the powerhouses of the league, such as the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Hence, there is still a lot at stake before the MVP is decided. Regardless, both Embiid and Jokic have their sights set on not just the MVP, but also the NBA championship.