Embiid vs Jokic?

Who’s the best center right now?


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Embiid, but it's close.
Embiid's the better scorer, Jokic is the better passer. Overall on offense I give Jokic the edge, but not by a lot.
Defense I think Joel is significantly better. Jokic isn't the terrible defender people who don't watch make him out to be by any means, he's fine on defense, but a healthy Embiid is a DPOY talent.

So close offense, but gap on defense goes Joel for me


Both of these guys are all-time Centers and absurdly talented
Basketball isn't an equal-value sum.

For starters, Embiid isn't the better scorer; the only real advantage (if you can even call it that) he has is being able to draw fouls, which has come back to bite him in the past during the playoffs. Otherwise, Jokic is better in every measurable way of scoring. Embiid's eFG is 53% this season, whereas Jokic's is 61%. Jokic is better from every space on the floor and in every situation (there's a reason why he's led the league in clutch shots over the last few seasons). Again, Embiid's scoring is supplemented by how often he gets to the line, but that's reliant on him getting those calls, which is a factor that is largely out of his control. It's not something that is dependable and translates to every scenario.

Merely stating Jokic is the better passer as if he isn't the greatest playmaking big that has ever stepped foot on the hardwood, and Embiid is only just coming into his own as an offensive creator, well -- you get the picture.

Defensively, in terms of capabilities, there's certainly a discernible margin there, but Embiid hasn't show the impact and dominance on that end this season because of all the energy he's been exerting on offense, and with the 76ers being almost-entirely reliant on him to stay on the floor to keep their head above the surface, he can't be aggressive on that end or take risks that he typically would, and risk getting into foul trouble. This is the trouble when speaking about players who take on greater responsibility on offense, folks seem to think they maintain that same defensive dominance. It's the same problem that folks had trouble identifying when Kawhi became an offense anchor, where he couldn't have the same defensive impact as he once did.

Offense and defense aren't equal, and their values are constantly fluid, which is why you can't compare players in this generalized manner that you're doing.
 

Flight

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TheFireCar

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both are generational players...

Embiid at his very best is better than Jokic at his very best on an individual level because of his elite two way play

but in terms of a team setting i think i rather have Jokic, more versatile on offense besides scoring.

Embiid is still a question mark in the playoffs? dealing with doubles and he isn't going to get foul calls all the time, if he isn't hot then that's bad news for the sixers, where Jokic can still contribute if he's having an off shooting night

Embiid is also more injury prone, Jokic is durable and i think that has to be a point towards Jokic. plus Jokic just seems to perform better in the playoffs tham Embiid

but i hate comparing two amazing players like this
 
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Bruh, I've got Jokic slightly ahead of Embiid but this is a terrible comparison. Davion Mitchell averages 9 points per game lmao. To suggest that the gap between Jokic and Embiid (who actually averages more points than Jokic though on worse efficiency) offensively is in anyway comparable to the gap between Steph and Davion on offense is ridiculous and proof that you're not making this argument in good faith.

And yes, Jokic is a better playmaker than Embiid but when you say "it's not close" on offense, that's just proof that you haven't watched Embiid play at all this year. Dude initiates the entire Sixers offense, has played point center on multiple occasions and is doing it with his point guard sitting on the bench. You correctly called out the people who dismissed Jokic's defensive improvements while completely dismissing Embiid's playmaking improvements
You’re all kinds of misunderstanding what I said.

I didn’t say that Mitchell and curry had the same gap in offense as Jokic and embiid have. I said curry is way better offensively and Mitchell is way better defensively, but offense is much more important so curry is way better.
 

TheFireCar

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it might not be true, but i swear i read somewhere that Jokic has better PnR defense than Embiid, idk if it's true or not. Embiid is the better defender in general, but still a curious stat that I believe i once saw, but not sure of valditiy
 

JP_614

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Man I like Embiid but joker gets his guys involved in a way embiid can’t not saying that embiid can’t pass but joker really sees the floor well and his IQ in terms of where guys are knowing where everyone is at on the floor is ridiculous. I think Joel edges him a little on the defense end but joker is more dynamic. Where is @Malta when you need him use to love talking about centers with him.
 

Black Bolt

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Its Jokic. Jokic is the best offensive center we've probably ever seen.

Its amazing that the big man is back in the NBA. Jokic, Embiid and Giannis. THey all play big but can do many things on the court.
Hakeem >>>>>>>>>>>
 
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