“Improbable Doesn’t Mean Impossible”: Joel Embiid Reacts to Winning 2023 NBA MVP Award

• Joel Embiid has said his chances of winning an MVP award were 'negative zero'
• The Philadelphia 76ers star beat Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo to win
• Embiid is the second African-born MVP winner since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994

Philadelphia 76ers star, Joel Embiid won the 2023 NBA MVP race, beating Nikola Jokic and Giannis Anetokounmpo to win his first award.

After receiving the prize, the Cameroonian star gave a rousing speech, saying reaching this point of his career was fulfilling.

The award was a culmination of years of hard work from the Basketball Without Borders camp to the 'Trust the Process' campaign, and then to his rise to the All-Star level despite starting playing basketball at 16.

Embiid also missed the first two seasons due to complications from a broken bone in his foot, per the Athletic.

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The 29-year-old finished second in MVP voting for the last two seasons behind Jokic. He has six-time All-Star selections and averaged a league-leading 33.1 points per game this season.

Embiid joins Wilt Chamberlain (1966, 1967, 1968), Julius Erving (1981), Moses Malone (1983), and Allen Iverson (2001) as Sixers to win MVP.

Embiid reacts to winning MVP

The Sixers center called it an outstanding achievement to win the award but added it is essential for his fellow Africans who see him as a role model, per ESPN.

"It's also part of my story because I've always felt like I was a role model - especially to my Cameroonian people and my African people - and I feel like, just looking at my story, they can look at it and be like, 'Wow, he did it'."

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Embiid also said he understood what winning the award as a player from Africa means.

"We don't have a lot of opportunities back in Africa, in general, to get to this point. But improbable doesn't mean impossible, and you can accomplish anything you set your mind to." 

He added that winning an NBA title will be much sweeter. The Sixers are battling the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs. The series is tied 1-1.

"Obviously winning a championship is going to be way better and we have that opportunity. But I'm just competitive. I want it all." 

International winners of NBA MVP

Sports Brief earlier reported on international players who've won the MVP award following Joel Embiid's recent success.

The 76ers star made history on Tuesday, becoming the sixth NBA player born outside the United States to win the award.

Others on the list include Hakeem Olajuwon - who was the first international MVP - Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Jokic.