The East was considered the weaker conference for many seasons in the past.
But with the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Jayson Tatum playing in the East, it’s certainly a strong conference with great NBA teams.
With that in mind, it’s very hard to determine the best player in the Eastern Conference.
Some may say Antetokounmpo, while others may pick reigning NBA MVP Embiid as the best player in the conference.
NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith recently shared his pick for the top player in the East between Antetokounmpo and Embiid, via “First Take” on Twitter.
“Of course, I would go with Joel Embiid as a talent. But resume? As it pertains to dependability? You have to go with Giannis,” Smith said.
Who’s the best player in the East: Embiid or Giannis? 🤔
“Of course I would go with Joel Embiid as a talent. But resume? As it pertains to dependability? You have to go with Giannis.” —@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/Qn8yOfkQ4v
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 10, 2023
Smith claimed that Antetokounmpo is certainly more accomplished than Embiid right now, but that the latter is simply more talented than the former.
While it’s a fair explanation of his choice, isn’t winning accolades the ultimate goal for any NBA player?
Antetokounmpo has won everything a player can imagine, including two NBA MVP awards, a NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, one NBA Championship, and one NBA Finals MVP.
On the other hand, the only thing that Embiid has won is the 2023 NBA MVP award.
In the 2023-24 season, Antetokounmpo is currently averaging 28.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Embiid, on the other hand, is averaging 31.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers superstar certainly has the upper hand on Antetokounmpo in terms of statistics for now, but the season is still young.
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