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Sixers' Joel Embiid named Eastern Conference player of month

The 76ers center averaged 29.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 blocks while leading his squad to an 11-2 record in the games he played in.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, center, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in Los Angeles.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, center, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in Los Angeles.Read moreMark J. Terrill / AP

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Joel Embiid was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference player of the month for January on Friday.

The 76ers center averaged 29.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 blocks while leading his squad to an 11-2 record in the games he played in. He posted double-doubles in 11 of those 13 games, finishing with at least 30 points and at least 10 rebounds on five occasions.

The two-time All-Star starter’s impact was felt in the two games he missed. They were upset by the struggling Atlanta Hawks at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 11. Then the Sixers suffered a 16-point road loss to the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 26.

He tied his season-high for points scored with 42 against the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 2. On Thursday, Embiid had 26 points and a game-high 20 rebounds as the Sixers snapped a 10-game series losing streak to the Golden State Warriors.

He is the first Sixer to win a player of the month award since Allen Iverson in April, 2005. Embiiid joins Hall of Famers Iverson (four times), Julius Erving (three), Charles Barkley (twice), and Moses Malone (twice) as the only players in franchise history to win the award since its inception during the 1979-80 season.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokoumpo, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, Brooklyn Nets point guard D’Angelo Russell and Sixers point guard Ben Simmons were the other players nominated.

Sixers coach Brett Brown was nominated for Eastern Conference coach of the month. His close friend and Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer garnered the award. Meanwhile, Golden State’s Steve Kerr is the Western Conference coach of the month. Houston Rockets guard James Harden is the Western Conference player of the month.