Embiid Joins Sixers Elite
By Samori Benjamin
Joel Embiid is the fifth Philadelphia 76er to win NBA Most Valuable Player in the history of the franchise. Embiid was handed the trophy by NBA commissioner Adam Silver before Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Boston Celtics. Embiid joins Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Allen Iverson as other Seventy Sixers to win the award. It was an emotional setting in Philadelphia as Embiid’s parents and son were in attendance and he became teary eyed when his son ran on the court to embrace him while he was making his acceptance speech.
When Embiid was drafted by Philadelphia third overall in 2014 the franchise coined the term “Trust the Process” which has since transcended sport and become part of American lexicon. Then Philadelphia General Manager Sam Hinkie stressed the phrase to appeal to fans to be patient in large part due to Embiid not playing a single game his first two seasons because of injury, and only played 31 games in his third season. Now, nine seasons after he was drafted, he takes home the NBA’s most coveted individual award. Philadelphia lost Game three to Boston 114-102 despite Embiid having a game high 30 points.
