Embiid says play 'speaks for itself' in NBA MVP fight

CLEVeLAND: NBA scoring leader Joel Embiid says he has taken his game to a higher level this season and his play "speaks for itself" in the fight for Most Valuable Player.

The 27-year-old Cameroonian 7-footer (2.13m) averages a league-high 29.6 points plus 11.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists a contest for the Philadelphia 76ers, who rank third in the Eastern Conference at 35-23.

"The play speaks for itself," Embiid said Saturday. "Every single night that's what I've been doing offensively and defensively, and I don't think I'm going to stop that."

The Sixers saw Australian guard Ben Simmons sit out the start of the season until he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal that saw superstar James Harden come to Philadelphia in exchange, ending a distracting soap opera for the 76ers.

"Well, I don't really want to push for the whole thing," Embiid said Saturday of the MVP race.

"But the way I've been playing speaks for itself, especially with everything we went through, the drama this whole year, and obviously missing a big piece, and everything we added to our team and the way our team is set up."

Embiid says, however, that as much as individual statistics can power an MVP case, it will take team success by the Sixers to solidify his chances.

"Really had to take my game to another level, whether it's offensively, defensively or playmaking, and obviously I've got great teammates that give their all, and that's helping a lot," Embiid said.

"But it always goes back to winning. I know that for us to win I've got to be dominant. As long as we win, I'll be at that level and I'll have a chance to win it all and win the MVP."

Embiid, among the players preparing for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at Cleveland, is among those who reigning NBA MVP