The Philadelphia 76ers franchise player took home the MVP after an impressive regular season. Here are the latest details.
The Third Is the Vanquished
After two seasons with the NBA's second best in the NBAthe 76ers center finally got it done. Embiid took the title as the best player for the 2022-2023 season, finishing above some of the best players in the world.
In particular, the second half of the season performance propelled Embiid over stars Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
A Definitive Vote
If anyone thought the voting would be close, they might be surprised to learn that Embiid took 73 of the 100 first-place votes. Jokic took 15 while Antetokounmpo took the other 12. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum finished fourth while Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took fifth place.
For Embiid, the honor marks a streak of dominant seasons where he has stood out for his effort and results on the court. In addition, his presence in the postseason has underscored the impressive regular season he had.
This is how the final vote turned out:
- Joel Embiid - 915 points
- Nikola Jokic - 674 points
- Giannis Antetokounmpo - 606 points
- Jayson Tatum - 280
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 46 points
The difference of more than 240 points has highlighted Embiid's dominance over his NBA peers. In addition, Embiid joins a select group of international players who have earned MVP honors. The list includes Hakeen Olujawon, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Antetokounmpo.
The End of a Long Road
Embiid, a native of Cameroon, took the long road to NBA stardom. After being the third pick in the 2014 draft, his career began with a series of injuries. Those injuries cost him most of his first two professional seasons.
Then, Embiid was the cornerstone of the 76ers' rebuild. The so-called "Process" took several seasons to deliver concrete results. Now, the fruits of his labor have manifested themselves. Embiid has not only garnered fan attention, but formal accolades.
#JoelEmbiid winner of #NBA 2022-23 #NBA Most Valuable Player Award #76ers #Philadelphia #MVP pic.twitter.com/SfiKOS18xS
- Juan Jose Rodriguez (@JuanJoseRodRD) May 2, 2023
Injuries Remain a Hindrance
The 76ers have been without their star player for two weeks due to a ligament injury in his right knee. Embiid suffered the injury in Game 3 against Brooklyn in the first round of the playoffs. For now, Embiid's status remains up in the air. Philadelphia is taking the situation one day at a time. It remains to be seen when Embiid could return to the court.
For the time being, James Harden's 45 points in Game 1 against Boston propelled Philadelphia to the win. Considering the 76ers' supporting cast, Embiid's absence is less glaring. No doubt the 76ers will need him to go far in these playoffs.
