Joel Embiid, center for the Philadelphia 76ers, has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2021-22 season. Embiid received 73 first-place votes and a total of 915 points, narrowly beating out second-place Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Embiid led the Sixers to the best record in the Eastern Conference this season, averaging a career-high 33.1 points per game, as well as 11.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He also improved his passing, defense, and conditioning over the past three seasons.
Embiid became the first African-born player to win the award since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994 and is the fifth MVP in 76ers history, joining a list of legends including Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Allen Iverson.
Embiid’s MVP award recognizes his incredible perseverance and hard work, both in his early years when injuries kept him from playing, and the resolve needed to excel at the highest level of professional basketball. Embiid has overcome adversity throughout his career and this recognition cements his place as one of the best players in the league.
Despite a recent right knee sprain, Embiid remained optimistic about his availability for the playoffs, vowing to come back and lead the 76ers to their first championship since 1983.
Embiid’s MVP victory also marks the fifth straight year that the award has been won by a foreign-born player. This statistic highlights the growing talent and diversity in the NBA, further cementing the league’s position as one of the most global and diverse sports organizations in the world.
Embiid’s win also marks the last five of six NBA MVP awards going to players widely considered big men, highlighting the importance of dominant post-play in today’s NBA. Embiid is part of a special class of Hall of Famers who have won the MVP award while playing for the Sixers, and his leadership and talent will undoubtedly carry the team far in the playoffs.
Overall, Embiid’s MVP win is a great moment in NBA history, highlighting the personal and professional struggles that he overcame to reach the pinnacle of his sport. The award also serves as an inspiration to young players everywhere, showing that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.
