Player” (MVP) of the 2022-2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season.Joel Embiid, sitting in a hotel reception room, was moved to tears Tuesday night when the good news came through that he had reached the commanding heights of the NBA.
James Harden was the first to hug him warmly. The others were quick to surround the second African in history, after Nigeria’s Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994, to win the title of MVP of the regular season of the North American basketball championship.
At 29 years of age, the native of Yaoundé, holds the Grail after two consecutive second places. The 213-cm, 113-kg behemoth is only the seventh non-American player to win the award since its inception.
“It’s amazing. It feels great. It’s something I’ve dreamed of and always wanted,” he said finally finding the words to end his speechlessness.
“I just want people to believe that anything is possible. I hope I can inspire a lot of people to do the same thing. Not just in basketball, but in everything you can do in life,” Embiid, who started his professional career in 2014, added.
On his Twitter account, the Congolese Charles Mbuya, sports journalist at Canal+, takes the ball to the air: “Africa needs models of success like Joel Embiid. Starting from Africa to dominate the best basketball league in the world, it forces respect. But it’s another reminder of the continent’s enormous potential that African leaders are struggling to develop.”
Embiid averaged 33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game during the 2022-2023 season. The high-flying performance of Pascal Siakam’s compatriot (Toronto Raptors) helped Philadelphia achieve its best season since 2000-2001 with a resounding record of 54 wins and 28 losses in 82 games. The Sixers finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference, behind Boston and Milwaukee, to qualify for the playoffs, where they are currently playing the Celtics in the semi-finals.
“I’m thrilled for Joel. He deserves this recognition. His willingness to improve is second to none. As the saying goes, a dream doesn’t come true by magic. It takes hard work. He put in the work because he wants to be a winner,” Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said.
On February 15, 2023, Embiid, with an six-time All-Star Game call-up, became the fastest Sixer of all time to reach 10,000 career points. Against the Utah Jazz on November 13, 2022, he scored 59 points, 8 assists, 11 rebounds and 7 blocks. This was the first such stat line in NBA history. Between March 2 and 20, 2023, the pivot completed 10 consecutive games (44 in total) with at least 30 points. A franchise record!
On three occasions, Embiid accumulated more than 50 points. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Allen Iverson had managed such a feat at the Sixers in a season. A regularity that has earned the Cameroonian Player of the Month of the Eastern Conference (December, January and March-April) three times.
“I have watched Joel grow and become one of the greatest players in the history of the Sixers franchise over the past nine years. He overcame adversity early in his career with a combination of perseverance and courage. And now, his intense work ethic has propelled him into the NBA history books. It has been a joy to watch him dedicate himself to the team and to the city of Philadelphia,” said the club’s managing partner, Josh Harris.
David Blitzer, Philadelphia’s co-manager, also had effusive praises for this past regular season’s MVP: “Joel is a unique talent whose impact extends far beyond the floor. When you think of the greatest players who have worn the Sixers jersey, your mind naturally turns to legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson. Joel has cemented his place on this special list and we are all happy to see him continue to write his legend.”
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