Philadelphia 76ers star player Joel Embiid has won the NBA MVP award for the 2022-23 season on Tuesday. Embiid won the award by beating Milwaukee Bucks talisman Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. He had 73 out of 100 first-place votes in his favour. The award makes him third time lucky as he finished runners-up to Jokic in the last two seasons. But now, he has finally achieved what he always dreamt of.
Embiid spoke about his achievement on the Inside the NBA show and he was simply out of words reminiscing his days of struggle and what he has managed to establish in the NBA with years of struggle and hard work.
I don’t even know where to start,” Embiid said. “It’s been a long time coming, a lot of hard work. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m not just talking about basketball, I’m talking about everything in life.My story. Where I come from, how I got here, and what it took for me to be here. So, it feels good. I don’t know what to say. It’s amazing.”
The big man was congratulated by Shaquille O’Neal for his exceptional achievement. Embiid in return paid his tributes to the BIg Diesel and his Inside the NBA co-hosts for motivating him ahead of a clash against the Boston Celtics, a few years ago and that still keeps him going.
“Thank you, big fella. Appreciate it,” Embiid said.“I still remember the conversation we had a couple of years ago. I think it was three or four years ago. It was actually here in Boston, we had just played Boston.
“You guys were all on me about I gotta be dominant, and to this day, I still remember that conversation. That helped a lot and I’ve changed a lot when it came to the way I went about my business. So thank you,” he reminisced.
Embiid was exceptional and he guided the Sixers to a 54-28 record, which was the third best in the NBA. He averaged 33.1 points to go along with 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per game on 54.8% shooting over 66 games this season.
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers also said the same about his talisman. Rivers believes that Embiid had worked hard enough and it was time for some recognition. “I am absolutely thrilled for Joel on winning the MVP award. He is the real deal and deserves every bit of recognition that comes his way,” Rivers said.
Rivers praised him very highly and feels that he embodies hardwork and honor for the franchise. He highlights how dreams don’t turn into reality without work and Embiid has done tremendous work to get here.
“He embodies everything that the honor stands for. His drive to improve is unmatched, and like the saying, ‘A dream doesn’t become reality through magic, it takes hard work,’ he’s put in the work,” Rivers concluded.
The Sixers shocked the Boston Celtics in Game 1 as James Harden dropped a masterclass in Embiid’s absence. The big man may return in Game 2 and they will wish to win the upcoming game aswell to build that cushion and keep up the pressure.
