Joel Embiid takes MASSIVE lead in the first edition of ESPN, Tim Bontemps NBA MVP Straw Poll

While it should come as no surprise to anyone who’s been watching NBA basketball this season, Joel Embiid is the leader of the pack in the first edition of ESPN / Tim Bontemps’ NBA MVP Straw Poll.

Bontemps’ MVP Straw Poll surveys 100 media members from across the NBA. This is the first edition of the Straw Poll for the 2023-24 NBA Season. 

Tim Bontemps’ Straw Poll via ESPN:

To gauge where the race stands roughly a third of the way through the regular season, ESPN asked 100 media members to participate in an informal poll that mimics the NBA’s postseason award voting process. To make the balloting as realistic as possible, there were at least two voters from each of the league’s 28 markets, along with a cross section of national and international reporters. [ESPN]

The NBA MVP Straw Poll History

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps has made a name for himself by tracking MVP voting closely throughout the season and annually posts a final poll towards the end of March to highlight where the race is likely to finish. The Straw Poll correctly picked last year’s winner, known fraud Nikola Jokic, over Joel Embiid at the end of March.

The straw poll of media members from 28 different markets is designed to mirror the voting process of the real ballots perfectly. This final “NBA MVP Straw Poll” has been going since 2017 and has correctly predicted the MVP winner every season outside of its first year.

Joel Embiid: 2022 vs 2023

Last season, Embiid overtook Nikola Jokic in a historically close final Straw Poll and ended up winning the NBA MVP.

In the first Straw Poll last year, Embiid barely cracked the Top 10 despite averaging 30.6 points per game to go along with 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.4 three-pointers made.

ESPN Straw Poll – Embiid 10th in MVP Voting.

NBA Deep State Strikes Again. 👁️ pic.twitter.com/ZHZsxF1zyx

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) December 16, 2022

This Season: Joel Embiid is now averaging 35.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 24 games.

2023 NBA Straw Poll First Edition: 

Joel Embiid received 63 first-place votes and 27 second-place votes. Overall, he finished with 848 total points, which gives the reigning NBA MVP a significant lead to repeat as the league’s Most Valuable Player. 

In second place, Nikola Jokic received 21 first-place votes and ranked with 630 points. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo (352 points), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (340) and Luka Doncic (306) rounded out the Top 5. 

Rightfully, so Joel Embiid is the leader of the pack. Just when you thought he couldn’t possibly get any better, Embiid has posted Embiid has posted 35.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game this season. 

When Joel Embiid is playing, the Sixers have posted a 19-5 record with Embiid and 0-3 without him.

Read More: Joel Embiid drops 50 burger on Minnesota Timberwolves’ top ranked defense >>

Philadelphia 76ers Current Standings

The Sixers are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference Standings with a 19-8 record. They are a game behind the Milwaukee Bucks in second, and two games behind the first place Boston Celtics. 

Up next, the Sixers will host the Toronto Raptors tomorrow night before heading to Miami to face the Heat on Christmas Day, which as we all know, is the unofficial start of the 2023-24 NBA season. 

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