"Embiid could never be this efficient" - NBA fans question why Nikola Jokic is not the MVP favorite after another dominant performance

Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic had a monster game on Wednesday night versus the Washington Wizards.

Jokic finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals on a hyper-efficient 75.0% shooting. It helped the Nuggets secure a 118-104 win over the Wizards.

Hoop Central

@TheHoopCentral

Nikola Jokic tonight:

31 Points
12 Rebounds
7 Assists
3 Steals
75% FG

1661

95

Nikola Jokic tonight:

31 Points
12 Rebounds
7 Assists
3 Steals
75% FG https://t.co/QE04rS162k

Jokic had reportedly fallen behind in the MVP race following Denver’s recent four-game losing streak. Many made the case that Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid had surpassed him. The NBA also moved Embiid into first place on its most recent edition of the Kia MVP Ladder.

However, Nikola Jokic’s performance on Wednesday reminded fans just how dominant he is. This led many fans to take to Twitter to reproclaim Jokic as the MVP favorite.

Here are some of the top fan reactions to Jokic’s dominant performance:

"Embiid could never be this efficient"

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@xEvropa

@TheHoopCentral Embiid could never be this efficient

1

@TheHoopCentral Embiid could never be this efficient

C̷am ŠZN🪬⚔️

@HighliteSZN

@TheHoopCentral MVP idc what u say🤷🏾‍♂️

39

@TheHoopCentral MVP idc what u say🤷🏾‍♂️

Flicker Basquet

@FlickerBasquet

@TheHoopCentral That's why Nikola Jokic is the best center of all time and should win his 3rd MVP.

25

2

@TheHoopCentral That's why Nikola Jokic is the best center of all time and should win his 3rd MVP.
https://t.co/xe21dElnm9

Billy Butcher

@lolitsurowner

@TheHoopCentral Embiid needs 14 FT to have this statline

5

@TheHoopCentral Embiid needs 14 FT to have this statline😭😭

🔜

@CMC23SZN

@TheHoopCentral embiid cannot do this without free throws… jokic is a better player

15

@TheHoopCentral embiid cannot do this without free throws… jokic is a better player

Luiii 🫥

@BarrettsGoat

@TheHoopCentral Better than EmFreeThrow

66

@TheHoopCentral Better than EmFreeThrow 😭

Michael Porter Jumpshot

@NuggetWatcher

@TheHoopCentral EmFreeThrow could never JOKIĆ MVP 3X

14

@TheHoopCentral EmFreeThrow could never😭 JOKIĆ MVP 3X🏆🏆🏆 https://t.co/5dQbFTlf37

However, despite Jokic’s big game, some fans still weren’t impressed, alleging that he was just stat padding late in a blowout game. Others also defended Embiid as the MVP frontrunner:

jon

@ceomissess

@TheHoopCentral Not impressed

2

@TheHoopCentral Not impressed

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Arion

@_Arionnnn

@TheHoopCentral 6/6/2 in the last 6 minutes when they were up 19 btw

29

1

@TheHoopCentral 6/6/2 in the last 6 minutes when they were up 19 btw

𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡💡

@embiidtruther

@TheHoopCentral embiid does that every game if not better

28

@TheHoopCentral embiid does that every game if not better

🔋

@icyyhurts

@TheHoopCentral this stat padder can’t be serious

82

@TheHoopCentral this stat padder can’t be serious https://t.co/tEkAgVpvNe

Bill Taylor

@Just_Buck_Ittt

@TheHoopCentral Nuggets up big he’s plays the game out lol meanwhile Embiid don’t play 4th Quarters

@TheHoopCentral Nuggets up big he’s plays the game out lol meanwhile Embiid don’t play 4th Quarters

Rodney

@lukatroncic23

@TheHoopCentral being in the game up 20 with 2 minutes left is insane

47

1

@TheHoopCentral being in the game up 20 with 2 minutes left is insane https://t.co/cjZTC3ljGs

Arion

@_Arionnnn

@TheHoopCentral his actual stats:
27/8/4
(removed the statpadding)

1

@TheHoopCentral his actual stats:
27/8/4
(removed the statpadding)

michaeL

@MichaelStark_23

@TheHoopCentral Padded his stats in the 4th, subbed back on with 8 min to go up 17 against the 32-40 wizards… stayed in till like 2 min to go even tho they consistently were up 15+

@TheHoopCentral Padded his stats in the 4th, subbed back on with 8 min to go up 17 against the 32-40 wizards… stayed in till like 2 min to go even tho they consistently were up 15+

Life is Good

@HBCU__

@TheHoopCentral Doesn’t matter. The MVP is Embid’s. The narrative has been set

3

@TheHoopCentral Doesn’t matter. The MVP is Embid’s. The narrative has been set

As for their season-long stats and team records, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid both have compelling cases for MVP.

Jokic is averaging 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers per game on 63.6% shooting through 65 games. Meanwhile, Embiid is averaging 33.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.7 bpg and 1.0 3pg on 54.7% shooting through 59 games.

The Nuggets (49-24) sit first in the Western Conference, while the Sixers (49-23) are third in the Eastern Conference. However, Philadelphia is still half a game ahead of Denver in the overall standings.

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Nikola Jokic on Nuggets’ turnaround following four-game skid

Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic

Following the Denver Nuggets’ win on Wednesday, Nikola Jokic spoke about the importance of the team getting back on track ahead of the playoffs. The Nuggets trailed the Washington Wizards by two at halftime before outscoring their opponents by 16 in the second half.

“We know what we needed to do. Because the postseason is going to be really short if we play like we played in the first half,” Jokic said.

The Nuggets have now won two straight games and three of their last four following their season-high four-game losing streak.

“Every team in the NBA, I think, has had that bad run. Hopefully it's done for us and we survive it. And hopefully we're going to play better now,” Jokic said.

Nuggets coach Mike Malone added that the team finally played like they cared after getting complacent as of late:

“We cared, finally,” Malone said.

“I challenged our guys in a big way at halftime. The way we played in that first half, that can't be who we are.”

The Nuggets will next play on Saturday against the league-best Milwaukee Bucks (52-20, first in the East).

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Also read: "The biggest crybaby in NBA history"- NBA fans troll Luka Doncic after he tries to mock refs in close loss to Warriors

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