There are no weak people in MVP, but there are the weakest MVPs, and there is almost no suspense, Embiid

On July 17, in the history of the NBA, the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award has always been the pinnacle symbol of player personal honor. From Jabbar to Jordan, from Duncan to James, every MVP winner has left an indelible mark in the league. However, as we look back at these names, a question quietly emerges: Are all MVP winners truly worthy of this honor? Or, among the many MVPs, is there a "weakest MVP"? The answer may be surprising, but the data and facts point to the same name - Joel Embiid.

### 1. MVP standards and disputes

MVP selection has always been subjective. Traditional standards include personal data, team record, influence on the game, and performance at critical moments. Taking the 2022-23 season as an example, Embiid averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, and his data was gorgeous. However, his MVP controversy stems from the "water" behind the data:

1. **Free-throw dependence**: Embiid averaged 11.7 free throws per game this season, accounting for 35% of his score. Compared with Jokic (5.9 free throws per game) during the same period, the authenticity of his offensive efficiency is questionable.

2. **Playoff stealth**: MVP should have proved itself on the high-end stage, but Embiid's average score in the playoffs (24.0 points) fell 13.9% compared to the regular season (27.9 points), and in the second round against the Celtics in 2023, he scored only 15 points in the tiebreak match.

3. **The value of the team's record**: The 76ers ranked third in the Eastern Conference in the season, but their winning rate was less than 60% against teams with a winning rate of more than 50%, far inferior to the Nuggets led by Jokic (first in the West, 64 wins and 18 losses).

### 2. The "weakest" tag in historical comparison

compares Embiid with other controversial MVPs, and its disadvantages are more obvious:

- **2017 Westbrook**: Although he was criticized for "triple-double data swiping", the Thunder's lineup is weak, Westbrook leads the team into the playoffs alone, and averages 37.4 points per game in the first round of the playoffs.

- **Nash in 2006**: The Suns won 62 and lost 20, and Nash ranked among the "180 Club" with a shooting percentage of 50.2% + 43.9% + 92.1%, and the team's offensive efficiency was historically level.

- **Embid's "uniqueness"**: He is the only MVP to not reach the division finals in the past 30 years, and is also one of the few winners who have significantly regressed in the season-elected playoffs.

### 3. "Weakness" outside of data

1. **Health hazards**: Embiid was reimbursed for injury in the first two seasons of his career, and has missed an average of 25 games per season since then. The "value" of MVP needs to be based on attendance, and his glass attributes are in sharp contrast with Iron Man such as Jordan and James.

2. **Technical shortcomings**: As a center, Embiid is obsessed with face-frame singles, but his back-to-body efficiency is only 62% of the players in the league (2023 data), the defensive end movement speed has declined, and his ability to switch to the outside line has declined year by year.

3. **Lack of leadership temperament**: From conflicts with Simmons to public complaining about teammates, Embiid lacks the cohesion that MVP should have. On the other hand, MVPs such as Jokic and Curry all led the entire team with a team-first spirit.

### 4. Reflection on media trends and selection mechanisms

Behind Embiid's MVP is the change in the narrative logic of the NBA:

- **"Less Hero" Marketing**: The media has long exaggerated its inspirational stories from the Cameroon slums to the NBA, covering up the flaws in the arena.

- **Trails in the data era**: High-order data (such as PER, WS) are overly dependent, but Embiid's RAPTOR (comprehensive offensive and defensive influence value) is only ranked 7th in the league in 2023, lower than Tatum and Antetokounmpo.

- **Sacrificial victim of aesthetic fatigue**: After Jokic's two consecutive MVPs, the judges deliberately turned to Embiid, resulting in "taking turns to be the banker" rather than "deserving it".

### 5. The revelation of the weakest MVP

Embid's case exposed the deep problems of MVP selection:

1. **The separation between the regular season and the playoffs**: MVP should examine the stability of players in all games throughout the year, rather than only 82 regular season games.

2. **Balance between data and victory**: If personal gorgeous data cannot be converted into team success, its value is debatable.

3. **The "double standards" of international players**: European players such as Jokic and Antetokounmpo need to be more versatile to win awards, while Embiid is tolerant with his American style of play.

### Conclusion

MVP has no absolute weak men, but Embiid's existence blurs the bottom line of this award. When future fans look back at the 2023 MVP, they may remember not his scoring title, but the defeat in the second round of tiebreak, the hesitation when facing double-teams, and the confusion of "I don't know what we lack." The real MVP should be as Jordan said: "Give me the ball at an important moment." Embiid lost the ball at the moment when he needed him the most.