Joel Embiid Wins 2023 NBA MVP, Beats Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been named the 2023 NBA MVP. According to The Athletic, the 29-year-old center beat Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks by a comfortable margin.

The winners of the NBA's most prestigious individual honor were revealed Tuesday night during a special TNT broadcast. One hundred NBA journalists cast ballots to determine the winner.

While staying in the team hotel in Boston, where the Sixers are in the midst of a second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Embiid told TNT's Inside the NBA analysts, "It is been a long time coming."

After his name was called, his teammates swarmed the hotel ballroom, embracing and chanting "M-V-P, M-V-P" as he buried his face in his huge hands.

Embiid, a Cameroonian who started playing basketball at 16, is now a six-time NBA All-Star and just earned his first MVP award after missing his first two seasons with an injury to his foot.

Former Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie made him the centerpiece of his "Trust the Process" campaign to gradually construct a championship team around him.

2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid Career

Philadelphia 76ers star, Joel Embiid, had a great year, averaging 33.1 points on 54.8% shooting, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while dominating the NBA in scoring for a second consecutive season while improving his efficiency, according to ESPN.

Embiid's victory makes it three centers in a row to win the trophy, as Nikola Jokic won it the previous two years. After Giannis Antetokounmpo's two consecutive years of accomplishments in 2019 and 2020, this is the fifth year in a row that a player from outside the United States has won.

Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94), Steve Nash (2005-06), and Dirk Nowitzki (2006-07) are the only international NBA players to win the MVP award in the past five years.

Embiid reversed the narrative with a strong season, winning the MVP award over Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Embiid won the MVP award with 73 possible 100 first-place votes (915 total), blowing away what had been a close competition for most of the season.

Jokic received 15 of the 674 first-place votes, while Antetokounmpo received only 12. Forward Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

LeBron James Got No NBA MVP Votes

It may surprise the casual NBA fan that LeBron James was not one of the candidates. According to ESPN Stats & Info, this is the first time in his career that James has not received at least one MVP vote since he was drafted first overall in 2003.

James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game this season. He also became the NBA's all-time leading scorer this season, USA TODAY reported.

His 55 games played were equal to the fewest in his career during an 82-game season. With a 43-39 record, the Los Angeles Lakers were given the seventh seed in the playoffs.

The 38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star has won the MVP award four times (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) and has finished second in the voting four more times.

The fact that he was still an MVP candidate until his 20th season is proof of his unparalleled greatness and durability.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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