NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers prepares to shoot a free throw as Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center on December 30, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Kevin Durant Says He'd Pick Joel Embiid as NBA MVP over Jokic, Morant, DeRozan

Timothy RappMar 18, 2022

Kevin Durant knows whom he'd pick for MVP, at least as of Friday night: Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.

"If I had to take a guess [who will win the award], I would go between Joel Embiid...DeMar DeRozan...and Ja Morant, for me," he told reporters. "Those are my top three, and I would probably go Joel. I mean, [Nikola] Jokic, could throw Jokic in there, but I'd probably go Joel. I mean, there's so many great players playing at a high level, man, so like I said the other day, the league's in a great place."

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Embiid leads the NBA in scoring (29.9 PPG) to go along with 11.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per contest. DeRozan is sixth in scoring (27.9 PPG) this season, while Morant is right behind him in seventh (27.5 PPG).

And Jokic, the defending MVP, is ninth in scoring (26.0 PPG), second in rebounds (13.8 RPG) and seventh in assists (8.1 APG).

All four players also have their teams firmly in playoff positioning. It should be a tight race, but it would be hard to argue with any of the players on Durant's list.