Draymond Green doubles down on Joel Embiid solidifying NBA MVP case

Draymond doubles down on Embiid solidifying NBA MVP case originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

Draymond Green is doubling down on who he believes will win the 2022-23 NBA MVP Award this season.

Speaking with reporters after the Warriors’ 120-112 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday at Chase Center, the Warriors’ defensive star explained why he believes Joel Embiid solidified his case to win the MVP.

“As far as the MVP race goes, I think over the last couple of weeks, Joel started to create some separation and he’s done a good job of that,” Green said. “His team continues to win — wasn’t able to get a win tonight — but the team continues to win and his play has gotten better and better.”

Before Embiid’s 46-point outburst against the Warriors, the 29-year-old star was averaging 34 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 blocks in 33.1 minutes per game in 11 games in March.

Embiid also is shooting 61.7 percent from the field, 39.3 percent from the 3-point line and 83.8 percent from the free-throw line, helping lead Philadelphia to a 9-3 record, including the loss to Golden State.

Despite the gaudy numbers, Embiid’s continued improvement in taking care of the ball is what stood out to Green over the last few weeks.

“And so I think you got to really reward his growth and acknowledge the growth because I think that’s a huge part of it … he’s gotten more comfortable with that and I think that’s huge,” Green concluded.

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Throughout the season, the MVP race has been a two-horse race between Embiid and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić, both dynamic big men capable of taking over the game at any point.

But if Green is to be believed, Embiid might have done enough in the waning weeks of the season to secure his first MVP award.

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Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2023-03-25 05:51:07

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