PHILADELPHIA – When Nikola Jokic called Joel Embiid “probably” the most dominant player in the NBA ahead of Saturday’s showcase, he knew the storm that awaited him.
Embiid showed off a level few players in the league ever reach, bludgeoning the Nuggets for 47 points and 18 rebounds en route to Philadelphia’s 126-119 win. Embiid’s dagger 3-pointer with 30 seconds left was followed by a shoulder shrug reminiscent of Michael Jordan against the Portland Trail Blazers.
And if it wasn’t in homage to MJ, then perhaps it was Embiid wondering, very publicly, whether this was his year to finally snatch an MVP award.