Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
A career-high 50 points from Joel Embiid will do the trick in the MVP discussion.
The 76ers defeated the Chicago Bulls despite the surprising absence of Ben Simmons, who was deemed out with an illness pregame. Without his robin, Embiid was called upon for a little extra production and he delivered.
Embiid put up a 50 burger, paired with 17 rebounds in an elite performance 76ers fans will remember for quite some time. While it’s a little early in the season to be talking MVP rankings, Embiid is arguably leading the pack with LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Steph Curry and Damian Lillard closely following. Even that list is sure to anger some basketball fans.
NBA fans are making Joel Embiid’s MVP case for him
The basketball Twitterverse was incredibly impressed with Embiid’s performance.
Embiid is proof that, despite the embarrassment of the early-to-mid 2010’s 76ers, the process worked out in the end. It landed the 76ers two bonafide stars, in time, and Sam Hinkie paid the price.
The 76ers still stand atop the Eastern Conference, but the surging Brooklyn Nets are making such a feat tougher by the game. Brooklyn is on a five game win streak of their own.
Yet, when healthy, Embiid and Simmons are on a different level this season. Doc Rivers appears to have Philly playing better basketball than years past. In turn, Embiid is holding himself to an MVP standard.