Author: Monojit Mandal
The 2022 NBA Most Valuable Player award went to Joel Embiid, center for the Philadelphia 76ers. Of African origin, Embiid, born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, began his career as an athlete and only started playing basketball as a teenager. Although Embiid started playing the sport late, his talent was evident and he quickly established himself as an NBA prospect, despite dealing with frequent injuries throughout his career.
Embiid became the face of the Philadelphia 76ers’ rebuilding attempt, nicknamed “The Process”, and fully embraced the nickname. At every home game, he also receives the title of Joel “The Process” Embiid. The All-Star and two-time league MVP averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game to win his first NBA-MVP award, ahead of two-time Nuggets champion Nikola Jokic .
Due to a right knee injury, Embiid had to miss a playoff game against the Nets and the first game of the Eastern Conference semi-final against the Celtics. Despite the blow, he remained adamant about winning the MVP award, which he had been campaigning for for years. Embiid got 73 first-place votes, Jokic got 15 and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks received 12.
Embiid was picked third overall in 2014 and missed his first two full seasons due to injury before discovering himself as one of the best players today. He had three 50-point performances this season, including a career-high 59 points against the Utah Jazz in November. Embiid also has 13 games with 40 points or more.
Embiid’s MVP award is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and talent. It’s a significant achievement in his career and a source of pride for his fans and teammates. The Philadelphia 76ers have a bright future with Embiid at the helm, and fans can expect to see him dominate the court for many years to come.
Embiid’s leadership on and off the court benefited the Philadelphia 76ers immensely. His infectious charisma and enthusiasm for the ‘game’ encouraged his colleagues to strive for new heights.