“MVP voters, take note.” NBC Sports Philadelphia, the local television station, had a little message during Joel Embiid’s postgame interview.
It must be said that the pivot of the Sixers had just managed a great performance in the “remontada” of 21 points against the Blazers: 39 points at 13/20 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 2 interceptions (but 4 bullet losses) and especially this “game winner” 1.1 seconds from the end of the meeting.
“As soon as I started to dribble, I knew I was going to have to step back” explains the Cameroonian. “I knew I had to go to my spot, in this area. In previous years, this was my perfect spot. At the top of the key, the field is wide open because the opponents are desperate to prevent the 3-pointer. »
“That’s why he’s the league’s MVP this year”
Joel Embiid therefore placed his dribble in front of Jusuf Nurkic, then his “spin move” to find himself in his garden.
“We fought the whole match, behind, up to 21 points. But when you come back in matches like that, especially at -1, you have to succeed in these actions. My teammates trust me and I just have to do my job. »
A normal evening at work for Joel Embiid therefore, while his team was nevertheless led the whole match before his shot. This is also the third time this season that the Sixers back a deficit of 20 points. It’s Joel Embiid’s 23rd game to 35+ points this season, enough to equal Shaquille O’Neal in 1999/00, the last pivot to have so many in a season.
The only other pivot to have done so since the NBA/ABA merger is Moses Malone, with 25 games over 35 points in 1981/82. Both Shaquille O’Neal and Moses Malone were voted MVPs in those seasons.
“It’s something he works on every day” explains James Harden on his comrade’s last shoot. “That’s why he’s the league’s MVP this year.” MVP voters, take note.
| Joel Embiid | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 31 | 25 | 46.6 | 36.7 | 78.3 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 20.2 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 63 | 30 | 48.3 | 30.8 | 76.9 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 22.9 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 64 | 34 | 48.4 | 30.0 | 80.4 | 2.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 27.5 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 51 | 30 | 47.7 | 33.1 | 80.7 | 2.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 23.0 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 51 | 31 | 51.3 | 37.7 | 85.9 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 28.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 68 | 34 | 49.9 | 37.1 | 81.4 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 30.6 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 52 | 35 | 53.7 | 36.3 | 85.8 | 1.8 | 8.4 | 10.1 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 33.3 |
| Total | 380 | 32 | 49.7 | 34.1 | 81.8 | 2.3 | 9.0 | 11.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 27.0 | |
