Joel Embiid continued his MVP coronation ahead of Game 3 of the 76ers’ second-round playoff series against the Celtics on Friday at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.
As NBA commissioner Adam Silver presented the Michael Jordan Trophy to Embiid, the six-time All-Star was filled with emotion. Embiid, who has described his journey from Cameroon to the NBA as an improbable one, delivered a speech thanking fans in the City of Brotherly Love.
In the process, the 29-year-old mentioned the importance of his son, 2-year-old Arthur, and was immediately choked up with tears of joy as he picked up the boy during the ceremony. As chants of “MVP” sounded off from fans, Embiid finished his speech, saying Arthur was the “main reason” he was able to celebrate the moment.
“Becoming a father changed my whole life,” Embiid said. “I just wanted to show him a good example, and I’m glad he is here with us and my fiancée is a big part of it, too.”
Embiid was named the league’s MVP on Tuesday night during an episode of TNT’s Inside the NBA. After finishing as runner-up to the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić in back-to-back seasons, Embiid became the first 76ers player to win the MVP since Allen Iverson in 2001.
Joel Embiid and his son during the MVP trophy ceremony 💙
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 5, 2023
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/XNV4AHAGxo
The two-time scoring champion finished the regular season averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Embiid created an indelible scene Friday night by sharing the emotional MVP moment with his young son.
