{"id":117308,"date":"2025-01-10T22:00:24","date_gmt":"2025-01-11T03:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=117308"},"modified":"2025-01-10T22:00:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T03:00:24","slug":"sixers-joel-embiid-jared-mccain-roy-injury-yves-missi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/10\/sixers-joel-embiid-jared-mccain-roy-injury-yves-missi\/","title":{"rendered":"Sixers MVP Chimes In On ROY Race Amid Teammate\u2019s Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain<\/a> officially ruled out for the remainder<\/a> of the 2024-25 season, he\u2019s essentially eliminated from winning the Rookie of the Year award.<\/p>\n

Unlike the Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player or Defensive Player of the Year award, there\u2019s no 65-game minimum that McCain must reach. In fact, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun was allowed to remain the MIP conversation<\/a> last season despite playing under 65 games. However, though McCain was the favorite to secure Rookie of the Year honors prior to his injury, his play wasn\u2019t quite spectacular enough for him to have been considered the runaway winner.<\/p>\n

Sixers\u2019 Joel Embiid Chimes In On Rookie Of The Year Race Amid Jared McCain\u2019s Injury<\/h2>\n

As was expected, McCain has seen multiple draft classmates vying for his spot as the ROY favorite.<\/p>\n

Zach Edey<\/a> is just one of<\/a> the Memphis Grizzlies\u2019 players with a legitimate shot at that title. Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr<\/a> was the latest favorite in NBA.com\u2019s Rookie of the Year ladder<\/a>. For awhile there, it even seemed like Los Angeles Lakers wing Dalton Knecht<\/a> could win it.<\/p>\n

Overshadowed the glamour of those highly-touted rookies has been New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi<\/a>. In fact, Sixers center Joel Embiid<\/a> believes Missi \u201chas a pretty good chance\u201d to win ROY.<\/p>\n

Even he, a league MVP, never won that award.<\/p>\n

An Exclusive Group<\/h3>\n

\u201c\u2026I\u2019m happy for him,\u201d Embiid tells Andscape\u2019s Marc J. Spears. \u201cHe has a chance to be really good<\/a>. Right now, he\u2019s doing what he\u2019s supposed to do. But I would also hope that he keeps working on his game because I think there\u2019s way more to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe also has a pretty good chance of also winning that award, Rookie the Year. I\u2019m rooting for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Embiid and McCain wearing the same jersey, this might rub some people the wrong way. However, Embiid and Missi share roots that go much deeper. The two giants are both Cameroonian, Embiid born in Yaound\u00e9 and Missi in Belgium.<\/p>\n

That puts them in a very exclusive group.<\/p>\n

Counting Lakers center Christian Koloko<\/a>, Toronto Raptors center Ulrich Chomche<\/a>, and Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam<\/a>, there are just five active NBA players who identify as Cameroonian.<\/p>\n

\n

How can you not be romantic about basketball? \ud83e\udd79<\/p>\n

Yves Missi went from playing on dirt courts in Cameroon to a Top 3 NBA rookie. No world-class training facilities\u2026 just heart, faith & desire \ud83d\udcaf pic.twitter.com\/44ffhlePfy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kicks (@kicks) December 10, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n