Despite posting MVP-caliber numbers, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid failed to receive enough votes to be a starter in February’s All-Star Game.
In true Philly fashion, Daryl Morey, the Sixers president of basketball operations, took to the radio airwaves, appearing on “The Anthony Gargano Show” on 97.5 The Fanatic, where he revealed the scapegoat, Boston.
Morey blamed the “shameless Boston media” for the slight against Embiid, believing that the press in that area had too much say in who would start the annual game.
“They shoved Joel low enough that he’s not an All-Star starter. It’s crazy,” Morey said.
Morey also had words for the NBA, stating it needs to refine the All-Star selection process. In a time of position-less basketball, Morey decried the old system of choosing All-Stars based on position, saying it makes little sense nowadays to vote the same way they did 60 years ago.
“There are so many players who are unique to history that you can’t put them in a box of an F label, a G label or a C label,” Morey said. “It’s just so antiquated, and they actively resisted making this change even though it makes sense.”
Morey’s outrage might seem slightly over the top, but his argument for Embiid is not without merit. Entering play Friday night, Embiid leads the NBA in scoring, posting 33.4 points per game. The idea that the league’s top scorer will come off the bench on Feb. 19 in the NBA’s showcase of stars sounds even more ridiculous than Morey’s tirade.
Embiid is also leading a winning team. At 31-16, Embiid and the Sixers are in second place in the Eastern Conference, only 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics, who own the NBA’s best record at 35-15.
Past the halfway mark of the regular season, Embiid is in the thick of the MVP race. According to Oddschecker, sportsbooks list Embiid with the third-best chances of winning the award, tied with Celtics star Jayson Tatum (+900). Only Luka Doncic (+450) of the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokic (-130) have better chances.
All things considered, Embiid certainly sounds worthy of a starting spot in the All-Star Game.
