[Source](http://m.espn.com/general/cast?id=10528553&src=desktop)
Around 41:36 of his [podcast](
https://dcs.megaphone.fm/ESP2782744335.mp3?key=ea5ca4131a9e9c95482a6c9f9929201f&request_event_id=0a88f45f-1e8a-467f-843c-25a0870a5506)
Zach Lowe: “I voted 2023 MVP Joel Embiid. I went Embiid, Jokic, Giannis, Tatum, Donovan Mitchell. That’s my MVP ballot. I think the last 5 weeks has just been all Embiid. I voted Embiid MVP in the end. I think he’s deserving, and I think he’s going to win and maybe easily.”
Lowe also said Embiid leads Jokic in a couple of advanced stats and close in some.
Howard Beck said his ballot is identical. Looks like that’s another vote for Embiid.
by FultzShoulder
29 Comments
Yeah that seems about right. Embiid has had a fucking monster Q4
Well that’s settles it. 75% of MVP voters just Googled “Zach Lowe 2023 MVP” hours before the ballots are due and send it in from there
Someone check on Michael Pina
I don’t understand people who don’t understand sometimes MVPs are either lifetime achievement awards or the best season not LeBron or Jordan
i hate the idea that a couple of voters have so much influence over the whole process, but i’m not gonna complain this time because they happen to be voting for my guy
Wow. He really picked those guys over Ja’Sean Tate
People didn’t want to listen when I told them Embiid would win by a lot. Idk why but it’s been very obvious if you’ve been paying attention to the discourse
well deserved
what happened with Jokic kind of felt like what happened with LeBron in 2017
Cleveland was 40-16, just won a title, LeBron was damn near averaging a triple double himself, 26/9/9 on 62% ts
but they finished the season going 11-15
Jokic leading the voting, Nuggets are 46-19, finish the season going 7-10
While I agree its probably stupid that embiid is getting it for his run to the end of the season and not his overall play which has been steller
We literally had the inverse of this last year with embiid handedly winning until it switched in the last run (through no fault of embiids play)
It really seems like Embiid is going to run away with it, which is really surprising. I thought that it was going to be really close.
Zach couldn’t risk getting banned from The Ricky.
Anyone listen to the rest of this pod? Did Lowe give out any of his other picks for individual awards?
Great, can’t wait for this MVP race to be done with.
It was a little too toxic this year, for my liking.
Zach betraying the Boston Sports Mafia /s
Agree that it will be Embiid by a not especially close margin – Simmons announced he voted Embiid today too.
Lowe is the best imo
Never change Zach !
whaaat? another member of the “Boston media mafia” to vote for Embiid?
crazy. almost like the “Boston media mafia” isnt a thing at all
This is not going to be over until sixers and nuggets are out of the playoffs, right?
Zach Lowe casually admitting recency bias is the main factor
Stop The Count!
Just bet my house that Embiid wins, lets go!
>Lowe also said Embiid leads Jokic in a couple of advanced stats and close in some.
Jokic leads the league (not just embiid) in PER, BPM, OBPM, VORP, WS, WS/48, EPM, RAPTOR WAR, RAPTOR.
It was obviously going to be Embiid. There was no way Jokic was going to win it 3 times in a row.
Dude was literally criticizing Jokic for having the most kicked balls in the league. Of course he voted for Embiid.
mvp is now mvp(of the end of the season)
I bet Zach Lowe is a regular on r/nba
As an aside to the main point, Mitchell getting some love is nice. Him and SGA should be the First Team guards imo.
Seems about right. Nuggets and Jokic faded down the stretch while Embiid finished strong and ultimately recency bias is always going to win out in a tight race like this
Most toxic MVP race till next year !
I honestly think he was pressured.
If you listen to the pod, Pelton gave a compelling objective case for Jokic, and Lowe responded with a ‘gut’ type response, which is not typical for him.
He basically said, Embiid has passed the ball more over the passed 3 weeks, so he’s LESS BAD at playmaking in comparison, so I think the offensive gap is closer between Jokic and Embiid.
I felt embarrassed for him lol