76ers News: Joel Embiid Named Top Player of 2023

As 2023 comes to a close, the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in a great position. They are in third place in the Eastern Conference, Joel Embiid continues to be a top star in the league, and the front office has great flexibility moving forward.

With the year coming to an end, the people at NBA.com put together a roundtable to discuss the past 12 months. They discussed some of their favorite moments, along with things they are looking forward to in 2024.

Among the questions asked was which player had the best 2023. Nikola Jokic was mentioned the most, but Steve Aschburner went with the Sixers star big man. 

"He was voted Kia Most Valuable Player last spring. He almost got the Sixers to the East Finals," Aschburner wrote. "And just when it looked as if things might be heading south for Philadelphia, he got freed of James Harden and that messy situation and has a fresher, more vibrant crew led by Tyrese Maxey playing like a renewed contender. Pretty good 12 months."

Jokic did have a great run in 2023, leading the Denver Nuggets to an NBA title. Still, Embiid cemented himself as one of the top stars of his generation. Along with leading the league in scoring for the second straight year, he finally secured the MVP award. 

Fast forward to this season, and Embiid is still performing at an elite level. He is posting career-highs in points (35.0) and assists (6.0) and is defending the rim at a high level. Embiid's two-way dominance on a nightly basis is a big reason why the Sixers have started the year 21-9. 

With the year coming to a close, Embiid has his sights set on continuing his quest of delivering the Sixers a championship.