“Joel Embiid’s Unlikely Rise to NBA MVP Status Despite Setbacks and Injuries”

It would have been so easy to put Joel Embiid’s career among the failed talents and forget about him. But Embiid was tough. He overcame injuries and endured hardship. Now he is at the forefront of basketball.

Joel Embiid considered retiring due to setbacks and injuries

In 2010, Joel Embiid started playing basketball. After several injuries cost him his first two professional seasons in 2015 and his brother died shortly thereafter, he even considered turning his back on basketball altogether. It’s now 2023 and Embiid is the NBA MVP.

Embiid’s rise to the top of individual basketball is one of the most unlikely in the sport’s history. Embiid started playing sports when he was a teenager. However, a foot injury just prior to the draft deterred teams. Embiid, the designated number one pick, was chosen third. Embiid’s injury sidelined him for two full seasons, raising doubts as to whether he would ever play an NBA game or go down as one of the biggest disappointments in draft history. In his first three seasons, Embiid only played 31 games, finally making his debut in the 2016–17 season.

Philly has another MVP 🤩

Embiid becomes the fifth 76er to take home the award 🏆 pic.twitter.com/VlQiO3ve86

— ESPN (@espn) May 2, 2023

Since then, Embiid has quickly become one of the best players in the NBA. It’s too easy to define his career in terms of his playoff weaknesses, most of which are outside of Embiid’s line of work. It’s not that Embiid has never been to an NBA final. It’s about appreciating that he’s even playing at that level. At the end of 2017 it would be an achievement if he could have just played a whole season. By the end of 2018, Embiid was doing so well that his success ignited the pressure he plays under today.

MVP title cements Embiid’s place in NBA history

And although this year’s MVP race was hotly contested, with Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo taking second and third place, Embiid is probably the fairest choice. For the second year in a row, Embiid has the most NBA points in the season, this time with a strong 33.1 points per game. He failed to do this by scoring from the three-point line, which has become en vogue even with some great players today. He did so in a brutal manner, slipping under the basket and clearing his way to the free throw line while also perfecting his feathery jump shot. All this makes Embiid one of the most difficult players to cover in the whole world. And yes, his reputation as a devastating defender is well deserved, as he’ll often shoo opponents out of the zone with just a stern look.

In the coming week there will again be an opportunity to analyze Embiid’s performances on the floor and discuss what is expected of him in the postseason. Yes, it’s surprising that a player of his caliber hasn’t yet been able to reach the Conference Finals. However, Embiid’s MVP title should not serve as a testament to his individual brilliance, but also to how difficult and unexpected his journey to the top was. Considering how late he got into basketball and that he even considered retiring from basketball, it’s no surprise how much this award means to Embiid. It’s a well deserved honor. And after a shaky start to his career, Embiid’s place in NBA history is now forever cemented.

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