After months of debate, Joel Embiid won his first MVP award on Tuesday, beating former two-time champions Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the honor.
Embiid won the award with 73% of the first-place votes and received 915 total points to runner-up Jokic’s 674.
Both centers had incredible seasons, leading to a healthy debate as to who should win this year’s award.
Jokic was a model of efficiency and no less instrumental to his team’s success than in his two MVP seasons. The Nuggets were the best team in the West and Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game and shot 63.2% from the field.
As great as he was, it’s hard to argue against Embiid’s resume. A season after he became the first center to lead the NBA in scoring since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-00, Embiid one-upped himself this season.
He averaged 33.1 points per game — compared to 30.6 points per game in 2021-22 — on 54.8% shooting to go along with his 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.
Data from NBA.com shows Embiid only trailed Antetokounmpo in usage rate this season and accounted for a higher percentage of his team’s points (39.5%) than any player.
Philadelphia is up 1-0 in its second-round series against Boston but is without Embiid due to an MCL strain he suffered in its Round 1 sweep of Brooklyn. The 76ers likely need their MVP back if they hope to sustain their run.
He’s the fourth former third-overall pick in the NBA Draft to win MVP, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and 76ers teammate James Harden.
Harden won his MVP award in Houston, meaning Embiid is the first 76ers player to win the award since Allen Iverson in 2000-01. He led the team all the way to NBA Finals that year, the franchise’s last Finals appearance.
