Matt Barnes settles a major debate about Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers have been stuck in the process for the last decade or so as they picked Joel Embiid to be the face of the franchise.
While Embiid is a sensational talent, he has hardly fulfilled his full potential due to a plethora of injuries throughout his career.
Despite that, Embiid has consistently been featured in debates with none other than Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, who many believe is the best center of this generation.
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesMatt Barnes has a surprising take on the Nikola Jokic-Joel Embiid rivalry
For years, Jokic held the upper hand over Embiid in terms of success in the NBA. However, many believe that Embiid slightly closed the gap when he won the 2023 NBA MVP.
But it didn’t take long for the Joker to extend his lead once again as he led the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA Championship.
Despite knowing this, former NBA player Matt Barnes recently gave a surprising take on the Jokic-Embiid rivalry.
“We keep saying ‘if’. When he is healthy there is absolutely no question. I would even argue at times, and people are going to think I’m crazy.
“I don’t know if I’m taking Joker, if Embiid is fully healthy, because Embiid moves around more on defense. He can switch around on pick and rolls,” Barnes stated on All the Smoke podcast.
He doubled down on his take: “Embiid when healthy is a problem. We just keep saying when and if. It’s been 10 years, horrible luck.”
Now, that’s a controversial take because Embiid has been called out for his inability to stay healthy, but Barnes somehow molded that argument in his favor.
Another disappointing season for Embiid
Even if we ignore history and just compare Jokic and Embiid’s 2024-25 NBA seasons, it’s obvious that the Nuggets star is far better than the 76ers star.
Embiid played just 19 games in the regular season, averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
On the other hand, the Joker played in 70 games and contributed 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game.
As a result, Jokic finished second in the 2025 NBA MVP voting and also led the Nuggets to the second round before losing in a hard-fought seven-game series against the OKC Thunder.