76ers News: Joel Embiid Receives Player of the Week Honors

Sixers star wins the award for the second time this season

Over the past month, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been on a dominant tear. Due to his recent string of performances, the reigning MVP has secured Player of the Week honors. 

On Tuesday afternoon, the NBA announced its players of the week for the ninth week of the season. Embiid was named for the Eastern Conference, and Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was selected for the Western Conference. 

NBA Players of the Week for Week 9.

West: Ja Morant (@memgrizz)
East: Joel Embiid (@sixers) pic.twitter.com/LNXV4DhaDN

— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2023

Even though the Sixers did not go undefeated, Embiid was nothing short of dominant last week. He kicked things off by going for 40 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to the Chicago Bulls. After that, he hung 51 points on the NBA's top defense in the Minnesota Timberwolves. Embiid finished out the week with a near triple-double performance against the Toronto Raptors (31 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists). 

Aside from just this week, Embiid has been one of the top overall performers in the NBA. Through the first quarter of the season, he is once again front and center in the MVP race. Through his first 25 games, the All-Star center is averaging 35.0 PPG, 11.7 RPG, and 6.0 APG. 

This now marks the second time this season that Embiid was named Player of the Week. The first instance came during the middle of November. He is one of two members of the Sixers to win Player of the Week this season, as Tyrese Maxey was named the first week of the year. 

With this honor, Embiid is now one of two players in the league to win POW twice so far. The other is Sacramento Kings All-Star De'Aaron Fox.