With an average of 33.1 points scored per game, he leads the competition
Embiid had been second in the last two years, when Jokic took the award
Joel Embiid, center of the Philadelphia 76ers, was chosen this Tuesday as the new Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBAbeing the most voted ahead of the Serbian Nikola Jokicof the Denver Nuggets and winner of this award in the last two years, and the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpoof the Milwaukee Bucks.
Embiid led the NBA in points scored per game, averaging 33.1to which he added 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists, with a 55% accuracy rate from the field.
The pivot led auwe 76ers who ranked third in the Eastern Conference (54-28) and who are playing in the Eastern semifinals of the ‘playoffs’ against the Boston Celtics.
Embiid returned an MVP to the 76ers for the first time since 2001, when Allen Iverson won it. He is the fifth player in the franchise to do so. after Wilt Chamberlain (1966, 1967 and 1968), Julius Erving (1981), Moses Malone (1983) and Iverson himself.
The 29-year-old Cameroonian he had been second in the last two years, when Jokic took the award. Previously, Antetokounmpo won it in 2019 and 2020.
“I do not know where to start, It took a lot of work, I’ve been through a lot, and I’m not just talking about basketball, but about life, because of my story, where I come from, what it took me to get here. It’s fantastic,” Embiid said, commenting on his victory on TNT.
“I thank my colleagues, I could not have done it without them. They are working hard and they put me in a position to succeed. I’m grateful to my teammates,” she added.
Embiid will receive the award named after Michael Jordanfive times MVP and six times NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls in the 90s.
“We’re going to celebrate for five minutes and then we’ll get back to work, we’ve got a series to win. Yesterday’s win was important,” Embiid said.which was connected from the 76ers hotel in Boston, where his team is playing the series against the Celtics.
He also thanked his uncle for encouraging him to play basketball when he was 16 years old. and when it seemed very difficult to reach the level to reach the NBA.
“I want people to remember that anything is possible. I started playing at the age of 16 and it’s complicated. It took a lot of work and a lot of luck. Everything is possible, you have to have faith.” insisted.