vOn Tuesday, Embiid won his first MVP award of the season, defeating Denver's Nikola Joki and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo. Embiid is the first Sixer to win the award since Allen Iverson in 2001, after finishing second the previous two seasons.
Embiid received 73 of the 100 first-place votes cast. Joki had 15 points, while Antetokounmpo had 12. Embiid finished with 915 points, crushing both Joki and Antetokounmpo. Joki had 674 points, while Antetokounmpo scored 606 points.
Embiid won the NBA scoring title for the second consecutive season, averaging 33.1 points in 2022-23. He shot a career-high 54% from the field to go along with 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks.
During the regular season, Embiid had three 50-point games. He scored 59 points in a 105-98 win over the Utah Jazz last November, shooting 67.9% from the field, grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing eight assists, and blocking seven shots.
Embiid got the honour while recovering from a sprained LCL in his right knee. He did not play in the Sixers' Game 1 win against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Monday night. Without the MVP, James Harden scored 45 points and drained seven three-pointers.
Embiid suffered an orbital bone fracture and a thumb injury last season, and he tore his meniscus in 2021. Embiid had already played in the playoffs while recovering from a separate orbital fracture and several ailments.
Philadelphia was able to steal a game without Embiid in Game 1, but Embiid's health will be critical if the Sixers are to make a run to the NBA Finals.