For over a decade now, USA Basketball offers you every Tuesday its Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player” trophy (MVP)”.
This week, we focus on the performance of James Harden and especially Joel Embiid which, in the midst of the rise of Sixers (five wins in a row), are heading for a rare feat. Namely that of finishing both the best scorer in the ET league and the best passer in the league, playing on the same team.
For now, Joel Embiid turns to 33.4 points average and is in the lead, ahead of Luka Doncic (33.0) and Damian Lillard (32.1). As for James Harden, he displays 10.8 assists average and leads the dance, ahead of Tyrese Haliburton (10.4) and Trae Young (10.1).
Forty-one years later, a new duo stands out
If they manage to maintain such a pace and finish at the top of these two statistical categories on April 9, the date of the end of the regular season, the two stars of Philadelphia will become nothing less than the first duo of teammates to achieve such a feat since… Johnny Moore and George Gervin in 1981/82 (Spurs era).
Before the Moore/Gervin pair, three other tandems had accomplished the same feat: Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio in 1973/74 (Braves era), Wilt Chamberlain and Guy Rodgers in 1962/63 (Warriors era), as well as Paul Arizin and Andy Phillip in 1951/52 (Warriors era as well).
It should be noted, moreover, that only Oscar Robertson (1967/68) and Tiny Archibald (1972/73) managed to become the league’s leading scorer AND the league’s leading passer in the same season.
Teammates, they finished top scorer and top passer in the same season
– 1951/52 (Warriors) : Paul Arizin (25.4 points) and Andy Phillip (8.2 assists)
– 1962/63 (Warriors) : Wilt Chamberlain (44.8 points) and Guy Rodgers (10.4 assists)
– 1973/74 (Braves) : Bob McAdoo (30.6 points) and Ernie DiGregorio (8.2 assists)
– 1981/82 (Spurs) : George Gervin (32.3 points) and Johnny Moore (9.6 assists)
[– 2022/23 (Sixers) : Joel Embiid (33.4 points) et James Harden (10.8 passes)]
Enough to bring the trophy back to Philadelphia?
If Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo could well prevent him from winning this first MVP title after which he has been chasing for a few years now, Joel Embiid could in any case “consol” himself by adding a second league top scorer trophy to his winners, after 2021/22 (30.6 points on average).
But this season, the Sixers pivot is doing even better statistically and, beyond becoming the 19th player (and the 8th inside) to win several NBA scoring titles, he would incidentally establish the highest scoring mark of a inside since Bob McAdoo in 1974/75 (34.5 points).
As for James Harden, already the league’s top passer in 2016/17 (11.2 assists), in Mike D’Antoni’s first year on the Rockets bench, he would have the chance to become the 13th player to win. multiple NBA passer titles (and the 7th to do so with multiple teams).
It remains to be seen whether the prowess of the Harden/Embiid duo will be enough to make one of the two Philadelphia players, in particular Joel Embiid, an MVP in the coming weeks. If crowned, it would be the first time since 2001, and Allen Iverson, that a member of the Sixers receives this honor. They, who also saw Wilt Chamberlain (1966, 1967, 1968), Julius Erving (1981) and Moses Malone (1983) triumph individually under their colors.
2023 MVP RACE: OUR TOP 5
1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 46 wins, 22 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 60 disputed out of 68 possible.
Statistics: 24.7 pts, 12.0 reb, 10.0 pds, 1.3 int, 0.7 ctr and 3.6 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 63% shooting, 41% 3-point and 81% throwing.
2 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Assessment: 49 wins, 19 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 53 disputed out of 68 possible.
Statistics: 31.5 pts, 11.9 reb, 5.5 ft, 0.7 int, 0.8 ctr and 4.0 ft in 33 min.
Percentages: 54% on shots, 29% at 3-pts and 66% on throws.
3 – Joel Embiid (Sixers)
Assessment: 45 wins, 22 losses – 3rd in the East.
Matches: 54 disputed out of 67 possible.
Statistics: 33.4 pts, 10.0 reb, 4.1 pds, 1.1 int, 1.6 ctr and 3.4 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 54% shooting, 35% 3-pt and 85% throwing.
4 – Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Assessment: 47 wins, 22 losses – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 64 disputed out of 69 possible.
Statistics: 30.3 pts, 8.9 reb, 4.8 pds, 1.0 int, 0.8 ctr and 3.0 pdb in 37 min.
Percentages: 46% on shots, 35% at 3-pts and 86% on throws.
5 – Domantas Sabonis (Kings)
Assessment: 40 wins, 27 losses – 3rd in the West.
Matches: 65 disputed out of 67 possible.
Statistics: 19.0 pts, 12.4 reb, 7.1 pds, 0.8 int, 0.5 ctr and 3.0 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 61% shooting, 37% 3-point and 76% throwing.
Mentions : Luka Doncic (Mavericks), Julius Randle (Knicks), James Harden (Sixers), Jimmy Butler (Heat), De’Aaron Fox (Kings)…
