The race for the NBA MVP is heating up in the final weeks of the season and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers is making his presence known.
The Philly big man is averaging 30.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
He is also a defensive powerhouse who is the centerpiece of his team.
Speaking of his team, the 76ers have come together a lot this year under Embiid’s leadership.
So, shouldn’t he be neck-and-neck for the MVP trophy this year?
Joel Embiid is gonna win the scoring title and is a top-5 defensive player in the league and isn’t gonna win MVP because another guy has a better VORP
— Mike O'Connor (@MOConnor_NBA) April 6, 2022
Mike O’Connor was questioning why Embiid might not win the MVP race.
O’Connor pointed out that Embiid will likely win the league’s scoring title and is a top-five defensive player but could ultimately lose the MVP race because Nikola Jokic‘s VORP rating is higher.
O’Connor isn’t wrong: Embiid is doing everything he needs to win MVP and should be in the conversation more.
The Value Of VORP
VORP is “value over replacement player”, an advanced stat that measures someone’s overall value to a team.
It’s a statistic that most people don’t look to because it’s one of the more complicated, complex ones and something not commonly mentioned in a box score.
That’s the point that O’Connor is making: Jokic might win the MVP race over Embiid because he is the runaway champ with all of these advanced stats.
But should that be the basis for who wins MVP?
In reality, Jokic is an out-of-this-world great basketball player just like Embiid, and losing to him wouldn’t be a disgrace.
However, Embiid’s power goes beyond statistics.
To really judge his work this year, someone needs to examine the way that he’s grown, evolved, and taken his playing to the next level.
He has improved his game in nearly every way and has shown his true value, even if he isn’t MVP.
NEXT: Joel Embiid Secures The Lead In A Tight NBA Race