NBA center explains the difference between guarding Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid

Embiid, 29, and Jokic, 28, have finished 1-2 in MVP voting each of the last three years running (with Jokic coming out on top in 2021 and 2022 before Embiid took home the hardware this season). But as Turner hinted, their respective games could not be any more different.

76ers star Embiid is a power big who can dunk his arm right through the hoop – but also pepper in some buttery shots off the dribble, either with his back to the basket or facing up. Jokic doesn’t play with pure force but rather with an artfulness to the game, always going at his own pace and guiding the ball with velvet-soft touch (either into the net or to an open teammate).

Turner’s take makes perfect sense. There a lot more coverages that you can throw at a player like Embiid (sending a second body at him, shrinking the paint, helping off the weakside corner, etc.) than a player like Jokic. If you try that same strategy on Jokic, he can just make the read and spray it out to an open shooter. All of a sudden, you find yourself giving up a three instead of a two. Trying to defend Jokic one-on-one isn’t much better of an option, either, given that he is also one of the toughest and most efficient shot-makers in the league (to make things even more unfair).

Embiid is a magnificent player with a very deep bag of his own. But there is a reason why he has never made it out of the second round of the playoffs while Jokic is the reigning Finals MVP. While the debate over the two centers was muddled up this year, all available evidence (including anecdotes like these from Turner) points to Jokic having the clear advantage right now.