Dr. J says Jokic is the NBA MVP, not Embiid

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Sometimes, even your heroes will let you down. The people you hold the most highly in your mind, in your heart, will fail you.

Julius Erving is one of the greatest players in NBA history, and arguably the greatest to put on a Sixers uniform. But he is not above reproach.

Case in point: Erving was a guest on The Rich Eisen Show today and asked for his thoughts on the NBA MVP race, and which player has the edge between Joel Embiid, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets, and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.

“I’m hopeful that Embiid wins it – he does talk about it and it’s something that is one of those carrots out there that he’s reaching for – but I think the most deserving guy is Jokic," Erving said. “He hasn’t missed any games. Night in and night out, he’s one better than he did last year. He was MVP last year. When you get better, I don’t think you lose status. Not if it’s a fair fight.”

“I’m going to pull for Embiid because he’s my guy. And Antetokounmpo, who knows how he’s going to finish up? But both Embiid and Antetokounmpo have missed several weeks of play. Jokic has been out there every night.”

Aw, Doc, no. Not you.

You would think that Erving – the voice in Embiid’s head in a current TV commercial, for crying out loud – would go to bat for a fellow Sixer great. Doc knows how tough it is to win MVP in a star-studded league. In 1981, he had to beat out Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Moses Malone, three players who have 12 MVPs between them.

He could’ve even played the fence. Everyone knows how tight this race is going to be, blah blah blah. Even that would have been way better than what he said.

In fairness, Jokic is the current betting favorite for MVP over Embiid and Antetokounmpo. But you should stump for your man, Doc. It’s the right thing to do.

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