Doc Rivers Makes Comparsion to Michael Jordan to Prove Joel Embiid Is a Top Defensive Player

Joel Embiid has been a force for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. The center is having one of the best years of his career and is once again a frontrunner to win MVP. While his offense is right on display, Embiid’s defense gets overshadowed. Recently, Doc Rovers compared Joel’s case with Michael Jordan as both have their offense overshadowing their defensive efforts.

Embiid has stepped up as one of the leading offensive players in the NBA. Fighting for the scoring title this season, the Sixers big man isn’t far away. Embiid is putting up a mammoth 30.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. But while he has gained the reputation as an MVP favorite, his effort on the defensive end are often overlooked.

While addressing this, Sixers coach, Doc Rivers compared Embiid’s case to that of Michael Jordan.

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Joel Embiid still a dominant defensive big man

While the Sixers center is enjoying one of his most efficient offensive seasons, Embiid’s defense hasn’t got the right recognition. Despite having a great season with scoring, the center hasn’t left anything out on the defensive end. With the media not paying attention to his defensive presence, Rivers made a surprising comparison.

He said: “I think Joel Embiid at the five is as good of a dominant center defensively as there is in the league, because probably, he’s a scorer, it’s like Jordan in some ways. No one really talked about Michael’s defense.”

Mar 25, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

While the talk about Jordan’s defense may not be true, Rivers does make a solid point. In his early days, Embiid came out as one of the top defensive players in the entire league. While his role has now become more aggressive, he is still active on stopping the opposition. With a defensive rating of 107, the big man has made a solid case as one of the best defensive centers in the league. Despite Embiid not going after everything on defense, his clever adjustments have allowed him to be one of the effective defenders in the NBA.

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While Embiid has a long way to catch the defensive achievements of Michael Jordan, there is no doubt about the efforts he put in. As an impactful player on both ends of the floor, Embiid has quickly turned into one of the best players in the league. Do you think the Sixers big man will ever win DPOY? Let us know in the comments below.

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