**On Jan. 4, Embiid was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in December. Two days later, Embiid held the third position for Eastern Conference frontcourt players in the first fan returns of 2022 NBA All-Star Voting.
The Case
He’s Joel Embiid.
Vote for All-Star here.
Seriously, after an All-Rookie campaign in 2016-17, Joel Embiid’s been an NBA All-Star each of the past four seasons.
The three-time All-NBA and All-Defensive Team selection currently holds averages of 26.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 33.2 minutes per game this season. Embiid is one of three players, alongside the league’s two most recent MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, to rank inside the top-10 for both scoring and rebounding. His assist and steal numbers are the best of his career.
In December, Embiid upped his averages to 29.2 points and 11.2 rebounds in 34.5 minutes per game.
Embiid leads the NBA in clutch points (98), free throws made per game (8.3), free throws attempted per game (10.3), and his three 40-point games are the third-most in the league.
The Performances
Nov. 6 at Chicago
- The win over the Bulls secured an 8-2 start for the Sixers and was the 1,000th career victory for head coach Doc Rivers. Embiid led the team to their sixth straight win with 30 points (11-19 fg, season-high 4-5 3fg, 4-7 ft), a game-high 15 rebounds, and two blocks.
Nov. 27 vs. Minnesota
- It was a vintage Embiid performance in his return to the lineup, willing the Sixers to double overtime: 42 points (12-23 fg, 2-4 3fg, 16-21 ft), 14 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocked shots in a season-high 45 minutes of action.
Dec. 6 at Charlotte
- Embiid went 15-for-20 from the floor, 1-for-2 from deep, and 12-for-14 from the foul line to reach a season-high 43 points in an overtime victory at Charlotte. The game’s leading scorer added 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Dec. 20 at Boston
- The most recent of Embiid’s 40-point efforts came in a 108-103 win over rival Boston. Embiid posted a game-high 41 points (14-27 fg, 1-5 3fg, 12-14 ft) with 10 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. It was his third-career outing with at least 40-10-5-4.
Dec. 30 at Brooklyn
- Ending 2021 by beating Kevin Durant, James Harden and the Nets on their home floor, Embiid outscored both of those players by delivering 34 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and a block. He shot 11-for-23 from the field and 3-for-5 from 3-point range in the 110-102 win.
Jan. 3 vs. Houston
- Embiid recorded the third triple-double of his career with game highs of 31 points (12-20 fg, 1-2 3fg, 6-7 ft), 15 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Rockets. Defensively, the four-time All-Star also registered two blocks to pass Hall of Famer Moses Malone for 10th on the 76ers all-time blocks list (479).
The Words
In a Media Day sit-down, second-year Sixers head coach Doc Rivers identified Embiid as a future MVP:
Once the new season commenced, Rivers again:
New teammate Georges Niang reflecting on Embiid’s dominant December:
Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr:
Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kevin Durant:
Vote for All-Star here.