The latest version of ESPN's NBA MVP straw poll dropped on Friday morning and Joel Embiid has surpassed Nikola Jokic for the MVP frontrunner.
But it is extremely close, as Embiid has 790 points to Jokic's 788. In fact it is historically close.
"Embiid's two-point margin of victory, if it were to carry over to the actual MVP vote at season's end, would easily eclipse the closest race since media voting became the norm during the 1980-81 season," ESPN's Tim Bontemps wrote.
As for the odds, FanDuel Sportsbook lists both Embiid and Jokic at +105, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is +650.
Embiid controversially did not place in the Sixers' matchup against Jokic and the Nuggets in Denver due to calf tightness and was asked about that hurting his MVP chances on Wednesday night, after the Sixers' win over the Mavericks.
"The last matchup we won, and I had whatever I had. And to go out there and say I'm scared after what I did the last time is stupid."
Embiid had 47 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in a Sixers 126-119 win over the Nuggets in January.
Keep up with 94WIP via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
