Joel Embiid

Following a missed Game 1 and sluggish return in Game 2, the NBA MVP looked like himself again in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Joel Embiid was masterful on both ends of the court for the Philadelphia 76ers in a critical Game 5 with the best-of-seven series tied 2-2. Embiid didn’t let a turnover on offense dull his spirits as he raced back the other way to land an enormous chase-down block on Jaylen Brown. The 76ers went into Boston and controlled the game wire-to-wire in large part due to Embiid’s 33 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four blocks in a 115-103 win on May 9, 2023. It was Embiid’s third consecutive 30-point game in the series.

MVP Year