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Honoring Joel Embiid, of the Philadelphia 76ers, for winning the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
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WHEREAS, Joel Hans Embiid, known by Philadelphians as “The Process,” was born on March 16, 1994 in Yaoundé, Cameroon; and
WHEREAS, Embiid fell in love with basketball as a teenager and his talents were quickly discovered at a basketball camp by NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute, who would become a mentor to the young Embiid. Shortly after this encounter, at just 16 years of age, Embiid moved to the United States to pursue basketball at Montverde Academy and The Rock School in Florida; and
WHEREAS, After high school, Embiid played one season for the University of Kansas before entering the 2014 NBA draft where he was the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid has had an outstanding and record-breaking career as a center for the 76ers and has been a major contributing factor to the team's resurgence as a championship contender; and
WHEREAS, Embiid’s 66 appearances this season yielded an average of 33.1 points per game, which led the league in scoring, and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only 76ers ever to post an average of 33-plus points in a season. Along the way, Embiid recorded an Eastern Conference-best 44 games with at least 30 points, the most by a 76er since the 2005-06 season. And Embiid tallied 50-plus points on three occasions, joining Chamberlain and Iverson as the only 76ers ever with at least three such games in a season; and
WHEREAS, Embiid recorded an Eastern Conference-best 44 games with at least 30 points, which were the most by a 76er since the 2005-06 season. Embiid tallied 50-plus points on three occasions, joining Chamberlain and Iverson as the only 76ers ever with at least three such games in a season; and
WHEREAS, Embiid’s 2022-23 season was filled with career milestones. In a game against the Utah Jazz in November 2022, Embiid posted a career-high 59 points to go along with 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while tying a career high with seven blocks. Embiid also became the fastest 76er to ever reach 10,000 career points, accomplishing this feat in just 373 games. And in March, Embiid set a franchise record with 10 straight 30-point games; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his dominant performance on the court, Embiid was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season, receiving 73 of the 100 first-place votes. Embiid became the first 76ers player to receive the award since Allen Iverson in 2001; and
WHEREAS, Embiid is the fifth 76er ever to capture league MVP honors, joining Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Allen Iverson. And the Cameroon native is just the seventh international player to be named MVP since the award’s inception; and
WHEREAS, Embiid’s impact on the City of Philadelphia transcends his performance on the basketball court. He created a foundation named after his late brother, Arthur, who passed in a car accident in 2014 at age 13. He has used it to launch the “In Memory of Arthur" (IMOA) initiative and has pledged $1 million to Philadelphia nonprofit organizations, such as Boys & Girls Club Philadelphia, over the next three years; and
WHEREAS, Embiid has been a positive role model for young people in the city of Philadelphia and has used his platform to speak out on important social issues, including supporting underprivileged communities, raising awareness about mental health, and advocating for social justice; and
WHEREAS, Embiid has demonstrated incredible resilience and dedication throughout his NBA career, and his contributions to the 76ers and the city of Philadelphia are deserving of recognition and celebration; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors Joel Embiid, of the Philadelphia 76ers, for winning the 2022-2023 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Joel Embiid as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
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