Joel Embiid Wins Player of the Month for the Second Consecutive Month

Sixers C Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 05: Philadelphia 76ers Center Joel Embiid (21) looks toward the net during warmups before the Eastern Conference Semifinal Game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers on May 05, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)

Joel Embiid has done it again. For the second time this season, Joel Embiid has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for the month of January, thanks to his gaudy numbers in January. Over the course of the month, Joel “Do a 180” Embiid has averaged a jaw-dropping 34.0 points per game, leading the entire NBA in scoring during January. His high point total isn’t just a result of inefficient shooting either, with Embiid shooting 54.2% from the field. The Sixers big man also contributed 10.8 rebounds per game to go along with 5.1 assists per game.

Embiid’s numbers aren’t the only reason for his award, however, as he led his Sixers on a fantastic month, helping Philly to post a 12-3 record, with the three losses coming in games where he scored 31, 32, and 40 points. Thanks to Embiid’s dominance and leadership, the Sixers also leaped all the way up to the 2nd seed in the East, trailing only the Miami Heat and ex-Sixer Jimmy Butler.

Joel Embiid is truly bolstering his MVP case this season as this is Joel Embiid’s second consecutive Player of the Month award after he secured the honor for his stellar play in the month of December. According to Keith Pompey, with this Player of the Month award, Embiid also ties Sixers legend, Allen Iverson for Player of the Month awards in Sixers history. He also becomes the 76ers to win said award consecutively, according to Pompey.

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers continue to buck expectations of fans and NBA pundits alike with their recent wins, forcing the rest of the league to take notice. Embiid is playing like the best player in the league and is single-handedly dragging the 76ers into contention. While this Sixers team may not be viewed to be nearly as good as any of the previous Sixers iterations we’ve seen, it is painfully clear that this is a new level for Joel Embiid. This team will go as far as Embiid takes them, with or without a Ben Simmons trade.