Joel Embiidcenter of the Philadelphia 76ers, was chosen this Tuesday as a new NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP)being the most voted ahead of the Serbian Nikola Jokic, of the Denver Nuggets and winner of this award in the last two years, and the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Embiid led the NBA for points scored per game, with an average of 33.1, to which he added 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists, with a 55 percent success in field goals.
The center led some 76ers who qualified third in the Eastern Conference (54-28) and that they are disputing the semifinals of the East 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 he fifth franchise player to do so after Wilt Chamberlain (1966, 1967 and 1968), Julius Erving (1981), Moses Malone (1983) and Iverson himself.
The 29-year-old Cameroonian had been second for the past two years when Jokic took the award. Previously, Antetokounmpo won it in 2019 and 2020.
“I don’t 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 of 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 teammates, I couldn’t have done it without them. They are working hard and they put me in a position to succeed. I am grateful to my teammates,” he added.
Embiid will receive the award named after Michael Jordan, a five-time MVP and six-time World Cup champion. NBA with the Chicago Bulls in the 90s.
“We are going to celebrate for five minutes and then we will return to work, we have a series to win. The victory yesterday was important,” said Embiid, who connected from the hotel of the 76ers en Bostonwhere his team plays the series against the Celtics.
He also thanked his uncle for encouraging him to play basketball when he was 16 and when It seemed very difficult to reach the level to reach the NBA.
The center led the 76ers who qualified third in the Eastern Conference (54-28) and who are playing in the semifinals of the East of the ‘playoffs’ against the Boston Celtics.
DAO
2023-05-03 05:31:03
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