The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-playoffs-format-how-does-the-nba-postseason-work-126-20220502-SPD-126.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a> have been swept once and knocked out twice in the postseason series since <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/2022-nba-playoffs-jimmy-butler-still-believes-in-heat-despite-sixers-wins-591-20220509-SPD-591.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jimmy Butler</a> joined the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/not-even-lebron-james-could-do-it-jonathan-kuminga-becomes-nbas-youngest-player-ever-to-start-in-playoffs-559-20220508-SPD-559.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat</a> three years ago.



The Heat have made it to their second Eastern Conference finals appearance in three years after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers. On the other hand, the 2020 NBA Finals saw them make it to the finals.



Butler left the Sixers for greater and better things, yet the team has stayed stagnant, even after many roster changes.



<h2>Joel Embiid confused why Sixers let Jimmy Butler go</h2>



To make matters worse, Butler’s heroics in the game must have felt like icing on the cake for the Sixers. Because of his outstanding performance, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/2021-22-nba-mvp-award-nikola-jokic-edges-out-giannis-antetokounmpo-and-joel-embiid-736-20220513-SPD-736.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joel Embiid</a> expressed his regret at not having Butler as a teammate after the Heat won the series-clinching game on Thursday evening.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I’m happy for him. I won’t sit here and say I didn’t wish he was my teammate. I still don’t know how we let him go. But I wish I could have gone to battle with him still. But it is what it is. Just got to keep building and keep trying to reach that goal.Obviously, that’s my guy, that’s my brother. I mean, it’s tough. But I’m so proud of him. He’s playing at an unreal level right now. He’s something else right now. And I’m proud of him for being at this level and carrying them and what he’s been able to do.”<cite>Embiid said of Butler after the game</cite></blockquote>

NBA News: 76ers' Joel Embiid perplexed as to why they let Jimmy Butler leave after defeat to Heat - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: 76ers' Joel Embiid perplexed as to why they let Jimmy Butler leave after defeat to Heat

miniaturas

The National Basketball Association have made the announcement that <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/which-is-the-most-valuable-nba-team-176-20220503-SPD-176.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a> center Nikola Jokic has earned his second straight <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-why-kobe-bryant-changed-jersey-number-from-no-8-to-no-24-231-20220503-SPD-231.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Most Valuable Player</a> award. 



Jokic prevailed over Philadelphia 76ers big <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-history-who-is-the-nbas-all-time-leading-scorer-165-20220502-SPD-165.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joel Embiid</a> and Milwaukee Bucks star <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-attendance-history-what-is-the-highest-attended-game-of-all-time-141-20220502-SPD-141.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a>. The Serbian was awarded a total of 875 points and 65 first-place votes out of a possible 100. 



Antetokounmpo came in second place with nine points and 595, while Embiid finished in second place with 26 points and 706. 



<h2>Nikola Jokic wins second MVP Award in row</h2>



The 27-year-old Jokic is the 13th player in NBA history to win the Most Valuable Player title in consecutive seasons. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-times-has-lebron-james-won-the-nba-mvp-award-151-20220502-SPD-151.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>, Steve Nash, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-power-forwards-of-all-time-in-nba-259-20220503-SPD-259.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tim Duncan</a>, and Magic Johnson are just some of the NBA legends that have been a part of this group. 



The NBA MVP Award voting has never had a top three and four finishers from outside the United States before, with Jokic (Serbia), Embiid (Cameroon), and Antetokounmpo (Greece) making up the top three and Doncic (Slovenia) rounding out the top five, respectively.

Joel Embiid

NBA News: 76ers' Joel Embiid perplexed as to why they let Jimmy Butler leave after defeat to Heat

2021-22 NBA MVP Award: Nikola Jokic edges out Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid

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