Joel Embiid Revisits Bold Prediction From 2014 After Winning MVP

Even before his NBA debut, the newly-crowned MVP had all-world confidence.

As expected, 76ers big man Joel Embiid was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Tuesday. And true to form, one of the most outspoken Twitter users in the league had the perfect social media response.

Embiid, who received 73 of 100 possible first-place votes, dug up a prediction he made from way back on Aug. 18, 2014—nearly two months after he was drafted No. 3 by Philadelphia and over two years before he would step foot on an NBA court. Even back then, the ever-confident center knew he was destined for great things.

SPOKE IT INTO EXISTENCE https://t.co/XW4QKuuLqH

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) May 3, 2023

Of the six other players Embiid listed in his “MVP rankings,” only LeBron James and Chris Paul are still in the league. Even if the then-20-year-old could not predict which other young stars would join him atop the voting, it’s a testament to his self-belief that, nearly nine years later, Embiid’s prediction cashed in.

Embiid, 29, won the MVP award after leading the league in scoring for the second straight year, averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 66 contests.

Embiid’s Sixers won Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup against the Celtics on Monday despite his absence due to a knee injury. Coach Doc Rivers considers Embiid “doubtful” for Wednesday’s Game 2.