Joel Embiid’s journey to NBA MVP started when he was a promising soccer player in Africa, who later pursued basketball when he realized that few seven-footers succeed in soccer. Embiid quickly became a generational talent and the face of the Philadelphia 76ers’ rebuilding effort called The Process. He won his first NBA MVP trophy after averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. Embiid has lobbied for the award for years and received 73 first-place votes, beating two-time winner Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Embiid missed his first two full seasons with injuries, but he eventually became one of the top big men of his generation. Embiid played in 66 regular-season games this season, the second-highest total of his career, despite injuries. His durability played a factor in the MVP vote. Embiid had three 50-point games and 13 total 40-point games this season, including a career-high 59 against Utah in November. He also became one of the few international players to win an NBA scoring title with 30.6 points last season.
Embiid’s win marks the fifth consecutive year that an international player has been named MVP, the longest streak in NBA history. Sixers President Daryl Morey said Embiid’s impact on both sides of the ball places him in rarified air among all-time greats such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain. Embiid has career averages of 27.2 points and 11.2 rebounds in 394 career starts. However, Embiid’s injury could be a deciding factor for the 76ers’ championship run. The Sixers are trying to win their first NBA title since 1983, and Embiid’s injury has already cost him one game during the playoff sweep against Brooklyn and the opening game of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston.
76ers center Joel Embiid wins 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award
