Joel Embiid comments about the NBA's Player Participation Policy: "I just wanna play as many games as possible…you can't control it"
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid returned from a four-game absence with a triple-double. Embiid had 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists while shooting 10-20 from the floor and 9-12 from the free-throw line. It was Embiid's 11th 30-point game of the season, the most in the league, and it puts him right back in the MVP conversation.
However, with the Sixers only having 49 regular season games left to play and Embiid playing just 26 out of the team's first 33 games of the season, he cannot miss more than 10 games moving forward if he wants to win back-to-back MVP awards, just like the two players who won the award before him - Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.
That's because, under the NBA's Player Participation Policy, which is included in the latest league CBA, a player must play at least 65 regular season games to be eligible to win an end-season award.
Embiid missed the Sixers' four-game road trip
Embiid suffered an ankle sprain during the Sixers' December 22 game against the Toronto Raptors. He went on to miss the Sixers' entire four-game road trip, which began on Christmas Day in Miami. Philly went 2-2 during that stretch, but with Embiid back, they blew out the Bulls in their last game.
"I just wanna play as many games as possible," Embiid said of the policy. "You can't control it. It's unfortunate that I missed the last four games, but you can't control it. If I'm healthy—I said it at the beginning of the season. My goal was—I knew that was gonna happen anyways—but my goal was to try to play 82 games and every single game."
Since entering the NBA, Embiid has never played in more than 68 regular season games in a single season. During his last campaign, when he won his first MVP award, he played in 66 regular season games. He's nearly on the same pace as he's played 79% of his team's games so far, but with the 65-game requirement, his MVP chances could end up in jeopardy.
Embiid is currently the NBA's leading scorer with 34.8 points per game and is ranked 5th in rebounds at 11.8 RPG. Looking at the top Las Vegas oddsmakers, the Sixers' franchise player is the current odds-on favorite to win the award, with Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic trailing him.
JoJo never wanted to go to Miami on Christmas Day
Embiid's recent four-game absence also drew criticism from his detractors, including a Philadelphia radio host who claimed that Joel never intended to travel to Miami and play the Heat on Christmas Day.
Eskin went on to add that Embiid isn't a leader for bailing out of the big game. But it's interesting to note that Heat superstar Jimmy Butler didn't play in that game too, and he didn't get the same treatment that Embiid got from his detractors.
Sure, that Christmas Day game was high-profile, but it was just one loss in the Sixers' record. At 23-10, they are still tied for the third-best record in the league, and Joel is back healthy, so that's what matters.
