James Harden has just presented Joel Embid with a gift befitting an MVP.
Tuesday, centre Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season. James Harden, Embiid’s close teammate and former MVP, surprised the seven-foot-two athlete with his first Rolex to mark the occasion, prompting him to inquire, “How do you wear watches?”
This week, Embiid and all of his teammates waited in a hotel conference room for the broadcast announcement, where Harden was the first to embrace the new champion while holding his head in disbelief. The 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player, James Harden, then presented Embiid with a $41,500 Rolex Day-Date 40 in Everrose gold mere seconds after his MVP press conference. The 40mm watch is made of 18-karat Everose gold and features a stunning sunburst dial, fluted bezel, and president bracelet. It also features an engraved “2023 MVP” on the caseback. Given Embiid’s dominance throughout the entire season, some may argue that he is more than deserving of his new MVP title, as well as Harden’s stylish gift that he will likely never forget.
After receiving his honour, Embiid told an interviewer on Inside the NBA, “I don’t even know where to begin.” “It has taken a long time and a great deal of effort. It feels wonderful. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m not just talking about basketball. ESPN asserts that despite what appeared to be a tight competition for the majority of the season, Embiid received 73 of the 100 first-place votes (915 total) for the title. This number placed him ahead of Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic (674 votes) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (606 votes) in the race for the prestigious award.
Embiid, whose nickname is “The Process,” has reportedly sought the MVP award for years. Before becoming a perennial All-Star and All-NBA player, he missed his first two complete seasons due to injuries. He is originally from Yaoundé, Cameroon. He leads the NBA in scoring for the second consecutive season, averaging a career-high 33.1 points and shooting 54.8 percent. In addition, he averages 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season. This is the third consecutive year that a centre has claimed the MVP award.
Embiid informed his colleagues that they have “five minutes to celebrate” his victory prior to preparing for Game 2 of their second playoff series against the Celtics. “We got our five minutes in!” exclaimed Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers to media. “He deserved to let those tears go, to let that emotion go.” In doing so, Embiid also made a few remarks about Harden. “He’s the best playmaker I’ve ever played with, and probably the best in the NBA,” he said. “He was ecstatic for me, as were the rest of the Sixers, and that meant a great deal to me.”