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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

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 Rivers compared Joel’s case with Michael Jordan as both have their offense overshadowing their defensive efforts.

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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. However, while he has gained the reputation as an MVP favorite, his effort on the defensive end are often overlooked.

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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.

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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.?

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USA Today via Reuters

While 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 in 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 most 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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Anuj Talwalkar

4,503 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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Niranjan Deodhar

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