Joel Embiid vs. Nikola Jokic: Examining their individual stats in every category and MVP credentials for the 2022-23 NBA season
Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers superstar big men Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are seen by many as the top two contenders for MVP.
With under 20 games remaining this season for both Philly and Denver, the MVP race is still as close as ever. This means that every game will be of increased importance for both Jokic and Embiid moving forward. On that note, here’s how both players have fared so far in every major statistical category.
Scoring
When it comes to high-volume scoring, Joel Embiid has a clear-cut advantage. This comes as he is averaging a career-high and league-best 33.3 points per game. In comparison, Nikola Jokic is averaging just 24.3 ppg, which is quite low for an MVP-caliber player. However, he more than makes up for it in other areas.
As for their offensive impact on their respective teams, both players have given their teams massive boosts. The Sixers have an offensive rating of 117.9 when Embiid is on the court and 112.5 when he is off the court. That is the difference between the second and the 24th-best team offense in the league.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets have an offensive rating of 124.4 with Jokic on the court and 102.6 with him on the bench. That is the difference between the first and 30th-ranked team offense in the league.
Rebounding
As for rebounding, Nikola Jokic edges out Joel Embiid. Jokic is averaging 11.8 rebounds per game, while Embiid is averaging 10.1 rpg. This may be surprising to some as Embiid is viewed as the bigger, more athletic player. However, Jokic still ranks third in the league in rebounding due to his intangibles around the rim.
Playmaking
When it comes to playmaking, Jokic has a clear-cut advantage over Embiid. Jokic is averaging 10.0 assists per game to Embiid’s 4.1 apg. Jokic ranks fourth in the league in assists despite being a center. As a result, he is the only player averaging a triple-double this season. He also leads the NBA in that category by a wide margin at 25 total triple-doubles, with the next-highest player having just 10.
Defense
On the defensive end of the court is where Joel Embiid has another advantage. Embiid is averaging 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Jokic is averaging 1.2 spg and 0.7 bpg. However, steals and blocks are not always the best indicator of a player’s defensive abilities.
Embiid is holding opposing players to just 46.4% shooting, 3.3% below their regular average. Jokic, on the other hand, is holding opposing players to 50.5% shooting, the same as their average. Jokic has had a neutral impact in individual defensive matchups, while Embiid has been a deterrent on the defensive end.
As for both players’ defensive impact on their teams, both improve their teams’ defenses considerably. The Sixers have a defensive rating of 110.3 with Embiid on the court and 113.1 with him on the bench. That is the difference between the fourth and the 11th-best team defense in the league.
The Nuggets also have a defensive rating of 110.9 with Jokic and 113.8 without him. That is the difference between the fourth and 19th-best team defense in the league.
Efficiency
Finally, when it comes to efficiency, Nikola Jokic once again has the advantage, with a 63.0/39.8/81.6 shooting split. This is in comparison to Joel Embiid’s 53.7/36.3/85.8 shooting split.
This gives Jokic a league-best 70.0% true shooting percentage to Embiid’s 64.7% TS%.
Which player has the overall advantage, Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid?
As for which player has had the better overall statistical impact this season, it would appear that that is Nikola Jokic.
Despite Embiid’s elite scoring, Jokic is averaging a triple-double on elite efficiency while making a massive impact on his team’s success. Jokic (58 games) has also played in six more games than Embiid (52 games) so far. Plus, Denver (46-20, first in the West) has a slight edge over Philly (43-22, third in the East) in the standings. This should only boost Jokic’s MVP chances.
Also read: NBA MVP Odds: Analyzing the chances of the top 3 frontrunners according to the betting market