Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ center, was recently awarded the 2023 NBA MVP after his impressive performance in the 2022-23 season. As a six-time All-Star, Embiid used his platform to offer words of encouragement to fellow Africans dreaming of playing in the league.
In an interview with NBA Today shortly after receiving the MVP award, Embiid spoke about his journey and expressed hope that his story would inspire others, saying, “I hope that people back home, in Africa in general, and the whole world, can kinda see it as something that they can also believe and understand that anything’s really possible.”
Words of wisdom from the 2023 MVP 💯 pic.twitter.com/hd3gKUSK75
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 3, 2023
Embiid, who hails from Cameroon, acknowledged the challenges faced by African athletes trying to make it to the NBA, saying, “For us, Africans, we don’t have a lot of these opportunities. The probability of us making it here and let alone being an MVP is probably negative zero. But improbable doesn’t mean impossible.”
The 27-year-old big man won the MVP award after receiving 73 first-place votes, 25 second-place votes, and two third-place votes. In addition to the individual accolade, Embiid also led the Sixers to a 54-28 record in the 2022-23 season.
Embiid’s journey to the NBA was not without its obstacles. He was discovered at a basketball camp in Cameroon at the age of 15 and moved to the United States to pursue his dream of playing in the league. Despite setbacks due to injury, Embiid persevered and became one of the league’s most dominant players.
His words of encouragement and example of determination and resilience serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide. As Embiid said in his interview, “Anything is possible if you believe in it and if you’re willing to put in the work.”
Joel Embiid Heroic Return Falls Short as Celtics Dominate 76ers in Game 2: A Setback for Philly’s MVP and Playoff Hopes
Joel Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, made his return to the court on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, after missing the Sixers’ Game 1 victory due to a sprained LCL in his right knee. Although the Sixers suffered a 121-87 loss to the Boston Celtics, Embiid’s presence was felt with 15 points, three rebounds, and five blocks in just 27 minutes of play.
The 27-year-old center had gone through normal pregame drills with a brace on his knee and was moving around without any issues. Joel Embiid went through a full workout the day before, which reportedly went well, but the decision to play was based on how his knee responded to that exertion.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers had previously said that if it was 50-50, they would err on the side of caution and not play Embiid. Despite the loss, Joel Embiid expressed confidence in his team and their ability to win. Philadelphia was looking to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series against Boston, who suffered a stunning Game 1 defeat with a stellar performance by James Harden.
