Joel Embiid has finally done it. After playing at a MVP-worthy level for the last three seasons, he’s officially been announced as the 2022-23 NBA MVP.
Embiid was up against fellow finalists Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, the latter of whom looked like the favorite for most of the year until the Nuggets’ play and Jokic’s narrative started faltering somewhat in the final weeks of the season. Meanwhile, Embiid kept dominating, kept adding statement performances to his campaign (like his 52-point masterclass in a win over the Celtics on Apr. 4), and the Sixers held firm with the third-best record in the league.