In the ongoing NBA playoffs, Jimmy Butler’s epic 56-point performance in Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks has already become the talk of the town. However, despite the chants of “MVP” from the home crowd, Butler believes the title belongs to his former teammate in Philadelphia, Joel Embiid.
During a courtside interview, Butler said, “I don’t know about MVP. I think that’s Joel if I’m brutally honest.” While Butler’s performance was exceptional, it was Embiid’s incredible regular-season campaign that has placed him in the MVP conversation.
Embiid has been the runner-up in the MVP race for the past two seasons, and this year, he has been playing at an even higher level. The 76ers’ center has averaged a career-high 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 66 games. Embiid also shot 54.8% from the field and knocked down 33.0% of his three-point attempts.
The other finalists for the MVP award are last season’s winner, Nikola Jokic, and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jokic had another incredible season, averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game while shooting an incredible 63.2% from the field. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists while leading his team to the NBA’s best record.
Despite Antetokounmpo’s impressive numbers, his three-point shooting percentage was lower than both Embiid’s and Jokic’s. However, he has led the Bucks to a fantastic season, and his play has kept them in the playoff hunt.
With the regular season now behind us, the NBA will soon announce the winner of the MVP award. Whether it’s Embiid, Jokic, or Antetokounmpo, one thing is for sure: all three players have been spectacular this season.
Dynamic Duo: Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid Carry Playoff Hopes for Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers
Jimmy Butler’s incredible 56-point performance in Game 4 gave the Miami Heat a 3-1 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks, and if they win Wednesday’s game, they will face the winner of the New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers series in the semi-finals. Butler has been averaging 36.5 points in the series versus the Bucks.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid has been leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 3-0 lead against the Brooklyn Nets, but he was forced to sit out Game 4 due to a sprained knee. His team still managed to secure the win and move on to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the Boston Celtics-Atlanta Hawks series.
Should Miami and Philadelphia advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, they will face each other, and Butler will be hoping to avenge his Game 7 loss from last year. Embiid, on the other hand, has never led the 76ers to the conference finals and is hoping that this will be the year.
The playoffs are heating up, and both Butler and Embiid are putting on impressive performances that are keeping their respective teams in contention for the NBA championship.
