76ers' Joel Embiid Says He, Nuggets' Nikola Jokić Don't Care About NBA MVP Debates

After getting the best of Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night with a 126-121 win, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid said neither player cares about the war of words between the two fanbases over which big man is better.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Embiid explained both he and Jokić "are just like, 'Who cares?'" about all of the outside noise.

"It's funny because, you know, Twitter, they have a war going on between Philly fans and Denver fans," Embiid said. "And it's funny because both of us are just like, 'Who cares? We just want to play basketball and win some games and so he deserved it."

Embiid, who played both legs of a back-to-back after sitting out the previous three games, put up 41 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists on Tuesday. Jokić was no slouch with 25 points and 19 rebounds in 38 minutes.

There has been plenty of discussion about Embiid possibly avoiding Jokić, particularly when the Sixers play in Denver. Tuesday's game was at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The reigning NBA MVP has only played at Ball Arena once in his career. He posted a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds but shot 6-of-17 from the field and committed eight turnovers in a 100-97 loss on Nov. 8, 2019.

As the two centers were locked in a close battle for the MVP award late last season, Embiid was held out of a game in Denver on March 27 as a precautionary measure due to calf tightness.

It was the final game of a four-game road trip for the 76ers that began in Chicago before sending them out west.

The decision didn't impact Embiid's MVP candidacy, as he won the award for the first time in his career. Jokić got the last laugh on everyone, though, by leading the Nuggets to the NBA championship.

Now that Embiid has the MVP trophy on his mantle, the next hurdle for him to clear will be leading the Sixers to a title.