NBA: How Joel Embiid managed to become MVP 2023

It has been said that anyone who aspires to be an effective leader will need to be equipped with both intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. Individual sports like athletics teach one critical intrapersonal skills which relates to emotional intelligence and these include the ability to focus, self-confidence, resilience and self-discipline. Similarly, team sports such as football and basketball help the individual to develop interpersonal skills such as the art of communication, being a team player, empathy, responsibility, dependability, patience and adaptability. Contrary to the belief of many African educators, the regular playing of sports at school does not amount to a waste of time but moulds character and nurtures qualitative leadership.

Joel Embiid has written his name in gold letters in the NBA. The Cameroonian became the second African to win the title of MVP after the Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994. Return on the coronation of the pivot of the Sixers who finally touched the grail.

Before last season, the last pivot to be the top scorer in the regular season was Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. Joel Embiid achieved this feat in 2021-2022 with an average of 30.6 points per game. The first African to achieve such a feat in the NBA, theplayer became at the same time the first pivot to exceed the 30 points per game since Moses Malone, in 1981/82. Only five pivots have managed to reach the 30-point average: Wilt Chamberlain (7 times), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (x3), Bob McAdoo (x3) Walt Bellamy (x1) and then Moses Malone (x1).

This season 2022-2023, Joel Embiid finished again the best scorer of the regular season. This, with an even higher average: 33.1 points per game. He also has the sixth best scoring average in the history of the NBA; Even if his main opponent Nikola Jokic finished the season with averages in triple-double, the Cameroonian, in view of his performance on the court, deserved his MVP award. Especially that against the bigs, the Big man showed all his class. We remember his confrontation against the Denver of Nikola Jokic where he had planted 47 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 counters with the bonus of the basket of victory. While the Serbian was content with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.

Last season, Joel Embiid had multiplied the media outings. Like a politician in campaign, the pivot thought that by multiplying the statements, he could print in the head of the people that he was the elected one, the only one who deserved this trophy of MVP. Unfortunately, despite the season of his life, the Cameroonian was beaten by Nikola Jokic who won for the second consecutive year.

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Unlike the 2021-2022 season, Joel Embiid has not said a word this year. Or at least, played the indifference. Claiming loudly that being MVP didn’t matter much. The Philadelphia colossus, however, hid his game well. “I know I told you that I wasn’t interested in the MVP award, but that was just so you would leave me alone,” he said in a press conference. In addition, the MVP award has become the Michael Jordan award. Embiid’s name is the first to be given this title.

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By www.sportnewsafrica.com