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Post 56pt Hammer on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks, Jimmy Butler Leaves MVP Candidate Joel Embiid in Awe With Humble Claim

Published 04/24/2023, 11:50 PM EDT

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Playoffs Jimmy Butler, that’s all that needs to be said about Miami Heat’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. The Vice City crowd went wild over the 33-year-old. Battling the best team in the NBA on a night the rest of his team struggled, Butler took charge. Firing on all cylinders, he went off for a new playoff career-high 56 points. His dazzling performance saw the crowd paint the arena in ‘MVP’ chants. However, a humble Butler named his pick for the prestigious award, and it is a superstar he knows very well.

Even after a career night, Butler didn’t ride with the MVP chants on his name. Instead, he used the opportunity to show his selfless nature.

Jimmy Butler places Joel Embiid on the MVP mantle

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The MVP conversation has stirred up significant discussions. The ‘Big 3’ over the last few seasons, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic once again the frontrunners. Each of them has a respectable case. Will the Joker make history and win his third straight honor? Will the Greek Freak win his third? Or is it Embiid’s time finally? Each of these narratives has kept the fans engaging and wondering just who deserves the honor this season.

Well, the decision might not be made yet, but Butler revealed who his MVP for the season is. After a stunning 56 points and 9 rebounds performance, the Kaseya Center swarmed the 33-year-old with MVP chants. A reporter asked him about his emotions at the moment. His selfless answer might just have won him more fans.

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“I don’t about know MVP. I think that’s Joel, if I’m being brutally honest,” said a humble Jimmy Butler when asked about the chants he received after his performance.

Once again, a frontrunner for the award, Embiid’s case like each other time is worthy. For the second straight season, the Sixers star has led the league in scoring. Not only that, but he is Philadelphia’s force, who finished third in the Eastern Conference. A 52-point bomb against the Boston Celtics, one of the toughest teams in the NBA seemed to be an MVP-sealing performance.

READ MORE-NBA Legend Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Draymond Green and Other NBA Stars Bown Down to “Animal” Jimmy Butler’s Playoffs Heroics

Time will tell if Butler was right or not, but he wasn’t the only one who praised the other. Watching his former teammate absolutely ball out, Embiid gave the six-time All-Star his props too.

Joel Embiid was hyped up watching Butler play

The All-Star Center shared the sentiments of the entire NBA world when it came to Jimmy Butler. In the 114-119 win over the Bucks, Butler was the one reason Milwaukee lost tonight. His 56-point performance was the first-ever 50-point game in Miami Heat’s rich playoff history.

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After watching the game, Joel Embiid was fired up for the guy who was once his ‘brother’ in Philly. He took to Twitter, “PLAYOFF MF HIMMY BUTLER.”

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Watch This Story: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s most heated moments over the years

The Heat now sit in the driver’s seat with a 3-1 lead in the series. While we have seen the unthinkable comeback before, with Butler in the path, Giannis Antetokounmpo will have to produce something beyond extraordinary for the Bucks to even hope. Do you think the Heat can fall with Jimmy Butler on his side? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar

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Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having composed close to 2000 articles, he aspires to manage his own team one day and is pursuing a top-tier college-level management program specializing in sports. Anuj's love for basketball blossomed after he started following the NBA a few years ago, and he decided to merge his writing skills with his understanding of this thrilling game.
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Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor