We are now just over the halfway point of the 2021-22 NBA regular season, and while there is still a ways to go, debates for seasonal awards have started to emerge. After a slow start to the year, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been nothing short of dominant for the last month and change now, including a 50-point performance on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic.
This high level of play, mixed with the Sixers' stockpiling wins, has gotten the All-Star center back into the discussion for MVP. Embiid was a frontrunner for the award last season but finished second to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. That being said, here are three reasons why Embiid should once again be a favorite for Most Valuable Player.
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Why Joel Embiid is an MVP favorite
1) The numbers
For any player to be in the discussion of MVP, they have to have strong stats to back their case. Since going on this impressive run, Joel Embiid has seen a sizable jump in his averages.
Currently, Embiid sits at fourth in the NBA in scoring with 28 points per game. He is also 10th in rebounds per game at 10.6 and is dishing a career-high 4.2 assists per game.
Embiid jumps even farther up the rankings when you look at just the last few weeks. Over his last 12 games, he is leading the league in scoring at 33.3 points per game and doing so while shooting close to 57% from the floor. Being one of the league's most unstoppable forces again puts Embiid in the conversation for the league's top player and should have him in any MVP conversations.
2) Durability
Looking back to last year's race, missed games was Joel Embiid's downfall. Between health and safety protocols and two fluke injuries, he missed a handful of games for the Sixers. Jokic played the entire season, which became the leading factor in him walking away with the hardware.
This time around, Embiid has done a tremendous job staying on the floor. He has made his physical health a top priority over the past two years, and the results speak for themselves. Embiid continues to slowly overcome the “injury-prone” narrative that plagued the early parts of his career.
Outside of entering health and safety protocols for a short stint, Embiid has been as durable as ever for the Sixers. He has played in 16 straight games now and has only been out of the lineup once since Nov. 27. Missed time was the major blemish on Embiid's resume last year, but at this rate, it will be a non-issue this time around.
3) The narrative
As we know, the narrative is a key component in someone winning MVP. Some even argue the award is entirely narrative-driven. If that is the case, few players have a better story surrounding them than Joel Embiid.
The basketball community has sat and watched the Ben Simmons saga unfold for months now. After requesting a trade back in the summer, the former No. 1 pick has yet to suit up in a game this season. Being without his All-Star running mate, Embiid has been tasked to keep the Sixers afloat while business is handled behind the scenes.
Where the Sixers finish at the end of the season will be the pivotal factor in Embiid's narrative. If he can carry them to a top spot in the conference without Simmons, he will have everything he needs to build an undeniable MVP resume. Keeping your team at the top of the standings while your best teammate sits out all season is the exact kind of story voters flock to when making MVP cases.
There is still a lot of basketball left to be played, but things are shaping up for Embiid to be front and center in the MVP debate for the second straight season.
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