Joel Embiid Says Health for NBA Playoffs More Important Than Winning MVP

New NBA rules say players must appear in 65 games for MVP consideration.

Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup on Monday after missing three games with a knee injury. The reigning NBA MVP scored 41 points with 10 rebounds in a 124–115 victory over the Houston Rockets. It was his 16th consecutive game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. 

Yet until Monday, Embiid had only played in two games so far in January and missed all four games of the Sixers’ road trip between Christmas and New Year’s Day before that. That led reporters to ask Embiid about the NBA’s new 65-game threshold to be eligible for awards including MVP and All-NBA teams. 

The Sixers’ star center says pushing through injury to play 65 games so he can win another MVP award isn’t a consideration. 

“No, I’ve already done it,” said Embiid. “I’ve always said I want it all. If I have a chance to get a second one, I’ll do it. But I’m not going to force myself or push for it. My game is always going to speak for itself. We’re winning; that’s the main thing.”

Joel Embiid says the 65 game threshold for awards will not have any impact on health decisions this season, the goal is all about the playoffs.

“No. I’ve already done it…one thing we’re not going to do is push for it to try to make the requirement” pic.twitter.com/AfpXjWYs5R

— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) January 15, 2024

Embiid currently leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 34.9 points per game. His 11.7 rebounds per game rank fifth in the league. 

But to meet that 65-game requirement, he can only miss eight of Philadelphia’s remaining 44 games this season. It’s also worth pointing out that Embiid has played more than 65 games in only two of his seven previous seasons.