Missing 10 games didn’t change Sixers’ Joel Embiid’s mission to win it all, including NBA MVP

Embiid on Embiid: “When I’m on the floor, I feel like I played the best all season. You know, just doing my thing, just dominating..."

If you think Joel Embiid lost any confidence after missing 10 games, think again.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

by Keith Pompey

Published April 12, 2021, 3:25 p.m. ET

DALLAS — Nothing’s changed.

That’s basically what Joel Embiid will tell you in regard to his goal. Before suffering a bone bruise in his left knee, the 76ers center was focused on three things: finishing first in the Eastern Conference, winning an NBA title, and winning league MVP.

But Embiid knows he won’t win the MVP award unless the Sixers win. They are tied for first place with the Brooklyn Nets in the conference with 36-17 records heading into Monday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

“So that’s always my main focus, just to go out there and win every single game,” Embiid said. “Obviously, our goal is to finish first.

“But when it comes to the MVP stuff, I feel like I’m still right there. When I’m on the floor, I feel like I played the best all season. You know, just doing my thing, just dominating with the help of my teammates and coaches putting me in the right position to succeed.”

Embiid was the leading MVP candidate before suffering the injury against the Washington Wizards on March 12. It sidelined him for 10 games.

Before then, Embiid was second in the league in scoring at 30.2 points per game and seventh in rebounding at 11.6.

Monday’s contest marks his fifth game back since the injury. He averaged 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in his first four games back.

His highlight was scoring 35 points in 32 minutes, 48 seconds in a 106-96 road victory over the Boston Celtics on April 6. Then on Saturday, Embiid had 27 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in 27:14 during a 117-93 road win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Including those four games, Embiid takes season averages of 29.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks into the Mavs contest.

“I still think I’m right there,” he said. “I still think I’m the MVP. You know, I’ve been dominant all season, and I’m not going to stop.

“But the bigger goal, obviously, is just to get to the playoffs healthy to be able to compete for the whole thing.”

He’s right.

The Sixers’ ultimate success depends on Embiid’s health no matter how clutch Tobias Harris is, or how many jumpers Ben Simmons takes, or how George Hill meshes with new teammates.

Embiid is adjusting to playing with a brace on his left knee since the injury. With limited mobility, he was shooting 20-for-49 (40.8%) in the first three games since his return.

Following Friday’s 5-for-16 effort against the Pelicans, Embiid, while still dressed in his uniform, went back on the court to shoot for 30 minutes.

The next night against the Thunder, he made 10 of 17 shots and scored 27 points.

“You know the brace bothers him,” coach Doc Rivers said. “There’s no doubt about that. He going to have to wear that a couple of more weeks. Hopefully less, but he’s getting through it, and he’s doing the best he can.”

Embiid said the brace is cutting off some of the normal blood flow in the leg.

“So my leg gets tired fast,” he said. “So it’s an adjustment. It’s better [in regard] to protecting me. So I just got to keep [wearing] it.”

Embiid’s goals haven’t changed regardless of what’s limiting him.

He stills wants to help the Sixers finish first in the conference, win an NBA title, and be the league’s MVP.