![Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been named the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player, according to an announcement from the league Tuesday. [Twitter/Screenshot/Public — @Sixers]](https://images.dailycaller.com/image/width=960,height=411,fit=cover,f=auto/https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fotor_2023-5-2_21_46_54-e1683078463193.jpg "Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been named the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player, according to an announcement from the league Tuesday. [Twitter/Screenshot/Public — @Sixers]")
I think we all saw this coming.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been named the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player, according to an announcement from the league Tuesday. The award is Embiid’s first MVP in his career after he finished second in the voting the two previous seasons.
After a dominant campaign that saw him average 30+ points-per-game, a double-double in scoring and rebounding, and a stat line of 33.1 PPG (54.8%), 10.2 RPG and 4.2 APG, Embiid beat out Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA vote.
And speaking of the voting, Embiid dominated that too. For most of the season, it seemed like it was a debate between Embiid, Jokic and Antetokounmpo. But things resulted in a blowout when it was time for media members to cast their votes. Out of 100 first-place votes, Embiid grabbed 73 of them, while in comparison, Jokic only had 15 and Antetokoumpo 12. Rounding out the top five was Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in the No. 4 spot and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in fifth.
“I don’t even know where to start,” said Embiid in an interview with ‘Inside the NBA’ after being named MVP. “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 … it feels good. I don’t know what to say. It’s amazing.”
your 2022-23 @Kia NBA MVP: @JoelEmbiid 🏆#KiaMVP pic.twitter.com/DNqnd5g9EY
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 2, 2023
Congratulations, Joel. You deserve it.
I had Joel Embiid as my MVP for the vast majority of the season, and now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever had anybody above Embiid. And here, at the end of the campaign, you better believe that I would’ve checked the box beside his name if I had a vote. (RELATED: James Harden Becomes Only 2nd Philadelphia 76ers Player In 50 Years To Score 45 Points In NBA Playoffs Game)
So to me, it’s no surprise that the man dominated the NBA voting.
Shoutout to Philly!