Sixers star is rapidly approaching a very dangerous territory

All things considered, Philadelphia 76ers standout big man Joel Embiid has been the most dominant player in the NBA this season. The reigning Most Valuable Player has progressed even more this year, helping the club to a strong start to the current season, with a 23-13 record.

Despite this, while many believe Embiid has a good chance of repeating as MVP this season, his biggest doubters have highlighted to one factor that could prevent him from winning the prized hardware: availability. He’s already missed nine games, with the 76ers going 2-7 over that span.

76ers superstar Joel Embiid could lose out on another MVP this season

 

 

Embiid’s periodic absences have left 76ers supporters wondering how much better the team’s record may have been if he hadn’t missed those games. Clearly, his absence has been the single most significant factor for their win-loss record not matching how brilliant they’ve looked thus far. However, on an individual level, his missed games might prove fatal.

To be eligible for the Most Valuable Player award, athletes must now play at least 65 games, according to new CBA regulations. Embiid has already missed nine games, and at this rate, he will miss approximately 25 games this season, increasing his total to just 57 games played. This would disqualify him from MVP consideration.

Meanwhile, Embiid’s main competitors for the title, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dallas’ Luka Doncic, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Boston’s Jayson Tatum, have all missed ten games. Even if Embiid manages to surpass the 65-game criterion, if he continues to push the line in this area, the jury may not be as high on him as the others, even if the numbers indicate that he is MVP.

Hopefully, the Philadelphia 76ers receive a pretty clear bill of health, particularly from Joel Embiid. That way, he can help the team win more games while also achieving the uncommon feat of being named MVP twice in a row.