At ESPNit has now been seven years since we surveyed the American press, three times during the season, in order to find out the voting trend for the MVP. To do this, our colleagues contacted 100 journalists, covering 28 of the 30 teams in the league, and asked them to vote for their Top 5.
After two months of competition, this is how it is Joel Embiid which comes at the top of this first score, and by quite a distance, with no less than 63 first places (out of 100) for a total of 848 points. It must be said that the pivot of Philadelphiareigning MVP let us remember, seems to have gone up a notch individually (35.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, 1.1 interceptions) and collectively (19-8, 3rd in the East).
A first 100% international Top 5?
Behind the Sixers interior, he’s his “best enemy” Nikola Jokic which comes in second place, with 630 points for 21 first places. Then, a gap is opened, with Giannis Antetokounmpo (352 points), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (340 points) then Luka Doncic (306 points) which are held in a pocket handkerchief. Completing a 100% international Top 5, which has never been achieved until now!
Precisely, American players rank between 6th and 11th places, with Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, LeBron James And De'Aaron Foxwhile Rudy Gobert collected 1 point!
It’s up to Joel Embiid to break the “curse”
Still, the truth of December is not necessarily that of May and, while there are still around fifty matches to go, we remember that at the same time last year, it was Jayson Tatum who dominated this first score from ESPN. In 2020/21 and 2021/22, it was LeBron James and Stephen Curry, which did not smile on them more at the end of the campaign (against Nikola Jokic)…
Suffice it to say that Joel Embiid will have to, on the one hand, be wary of particularly tough (international) competition, beyond not slowing down the pace collectively and, above all, keeping himself in shape so as not to miss too many matches and therefore remain eligible for end-of-season rewards…
| Joel Embiid | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 31 | 25 | 46.6 | 36.7 | 78.3 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 20.2 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 63 | 30 | 48.3 | 30.8 | 76.9 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 22.9 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 64 | 34 | 48.4 | 30.0 | 80.4 | 2.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 27.5 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 51 | 30 | 47.7 | 33.1 | 80.7 | 2.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 23.0 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 51 | 31 | 51.3 | 37.7 | 85.9 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 28.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 68 | 34 | 49.9 | 37.1 | 81.4 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 30.6 |
| 2022-23 ★ | PHL | 66 | 35 | 54.8 | 33.0 | 85.7 | 1.7 | 8.4 | 10.2 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 33.1 |
| 2023-24 | PHL | 23 | 34 | 53.4 | 33.8 | 89.0 | 2.9 | 8.9 | 11.8 | 6.0 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 34.4 |
| Total | 417 | 32 | 50.3 | 33.7 | 82.4 | 2.3 | 8.9 | 11.2 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 27.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
