May 04, 2023
Joel Embiid finally won MVP and the honor meant everything.
After years of knocking on the door and trying to gain a foothold in the conversation, he's finally, indisputably, basketball's best, and around Philadelphia, joins some pretty exclusive company.
The superstar center is the first Sixer to win NBA MVP since Allen Iverson back in that 2001 Finals run that has gone on to become the stuff of legends for every 90s-born kid attached to their No. 3 jersey growing up, and is the fifth Sixer all-time to earn the honor following Iverson in '01, Moses Malone in '83, and Dr. J in '81, and Wilt Chamberlain from '66-'68 – all four of which are Hall of Famers.
Going outside basketball, Embiid joins names like Bryce Harper, Mike Schmidt, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Eric Lindros as the athletes to win their respective league's highest individual honor, all while representing the city of Philadelphia.
It's a memorable bunch, and now that Embiid has joined the club, here's a quick rundown of all of them, as well as where their elite campaigns landed the Sixers, Flyers, Phillies, and the since relocated Warriors and A's...
• Joel Embiid, 2022-2023: 66 GP, .548 FG%, 10.2 REB, 4.2 AST, 33.1 PTS, ???.
• Allen Iverson, 2000-2001: 71 GP, .420 FG%, 3.8 REB, 4.6 AST, 31.1 PTS, reached NBA Finals.
• Moses Malone, 1982-1983: 78 GP, .501 FG%, 15.3 REB, 1.3 AST, 24.5 PTS, won NBA Finals.
• Julius Erving, 1980-1981: 82 GP, .521 FG%, 8.0 REB, 4.4 AST, 24.6 PTS, reached Eastern Conference Finals.
• Wilt Chamberlain, 1967-1968: 82 GP, .595 FG%, 23.8 REB, 8.6 AST, 24.3 PTS, reached Eastern Division Finals.
• Wilt Chamberlain, 1966-1967: 81 GP, .683 FG%, 24.2 REB, 7.8 AST, 24.1 PTS, won NBA Finals.
• Wilt Chamberlain, 1965-1966: 79 GP, .540 FG%, 24.6 REB, 5.2 AST, 33.5 PTS, reached Eastern Division Finals.
*Bold indicates league leader for that season
• Eric Lindros, 1994-1995*: 46 GP, 29 G, 41 A, 70 PTS, reached Eastern Conference Finals.
• Bobby Clarke, 1975-1976: 76 GP, 30 G, 89 A, 119 PTS, +83, reached Stanley Cup Final.
• Bobby Clarke, 1974-1975: 80 GP, 27 G, 89 A, 116 PTS, +79, won Stanley Cup.
• Bobby Clarke, 1972-1973: 78 GP, 37 G, 67 A, 104 PTS, reached NHL semifinals.
*Lockout-shortened season
• Bryce Harper, 2021: .309/.429/.615, 35 HR, 84 RBI, 13 SB, missed postseason.
• Jimmy Rollins, 2007: .296/.344/.531, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 41 RBI, won NL East.
• Ryan Howard, 2006: .313/.425/.659, 58 HR, 149 RBI, 25 2B, missed postseason.
• Mike Schmidt, 1986: .290/.390/.547, 37 HR, 119 RBI, 29 2B, missed postseason.
• Mike Schmidt, 1981: .316/.435/.644, 31 HR, 91 RBI, 19 2B, reached NLDS.
• Mike Schmidt, 1980: .286/.380/.624, 48 HR, 121 RBI, 25 2B, won World Series.
• Jim Konstanty, 1950: 16-7, 22 SV, 2.66 ERA, 152.0 IP, 56 Ks, reached World Series.
• Chuck Klein, 1932: .348/.404/.646, 38 HR, 137 RBI, 20 SB, finished 4th in NL.
• The Eagles haven't had any MVPs yet, though Carson Wentz made a push for it in '17 (before the ACL tear) and so did Jalen Hurts this past season (before the shoulder sprain).
Maybe Hurts has something special in store for 2023?
And even though it doesn't technically count, Nick Foles does have that MVP trophy from Super Bowl LII.
• Wilt Chamberlain, 1959-1960: 72 GP, .461 FG%, 27.0 REB, 2.3 AST, 37.6 PTS, reached Eastern Division Finals.
• Bobby Shantz, 1952: 24-7, 2.48 ERA, 279.2 IP, 152 Ks, finished 4th in AL.
• Jimmie Foxx, 1933: .356/.449/.703, 48 HR, 163 RBI, 37 2B, finished 3rd in AL.
• Jimmie Foxx, 1932: .364/.469/.749, 58 HR, 169 RBI, 33 2B, finished 2nd in AL.
• Lefty Grove, 1931: 31-4, 5 SV, 2.06 ERA, 288.2 IP, 175 Ks, reached World Series.
• Mickey Cochrane, 1928: .293/.395/.464, 10 HR, 57 RBI, 26 2B, finished 2nd in AL.
• Eddie Collins, 1914: .344/.452/.452, 2 HR, 85 RBI, 58 SB, reached World Series.
*All stats pulled from Sports Reference.
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