The NBA announced today that 76ers center Joel Embiid has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played between Monday, March 6 and Sunday, March 12. This is the 10th time Embiid has captured the weekly award, and his third such honor this season.
Embiid and Iverson (20) are the only 76ers to win the award at least 10 times since the award’s inception in 1979-80.
Over the course of the week, Embiid averaged 38.5 points (62.0% FG, 50.0% 3PT, 87.9% FT), 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals per outing. He was the lone player to average such numbers in the league, leading the 76ers to a perfect 4-0 week. Philadelphia five-game win streak is the longest in the NBA.
Embiid led all players in total points (154) and free throws (51), while ranking second in blocked shots (11) throughout the week.
Embiid scored at least 39 points in three consecutive games from March 6-10, becoming the first 76er to accomplish that feat since Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 2004. This included a 39-point effort on Friday, March 10, which helped the 76ers overcome a 21-point deficit against Portland. In that game, a 120-119 victory, Embiid hit a go-ahead field goal with 1.5 seconds remaining, marking the first time he has connected on a go-ahead basket within the final 2.0 seconds of a game in his NBA career.
In 54 games this season, Embiid leads the league in scoring with a career-high 33.4 points on a career-best 53.9% shooting mark from the field, in addition to his 10.0 rebounds per game. The Cameroon native is on pace to become the first player since Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo (1973-75) – and the only player in franchise history – to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in back-to-back seasons.
Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings was named Western Conference Player of the Week.
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