Philadelphia 76ers C Joel Embiid was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December, the league announced Tuesday.
In 13 games in the month of December, Embiid averaged 29.2 points (seventh in the NBA, fourth in the East), 11.2 rebounds (sixth in the NBA, fourth in the East), 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks in 34.5 minutes per game. He was one of three NBA players to average 25 points and 10 rebounds through the month, joining Denver’s Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The six-year veteran was the lone player during the month to post totals of at least 350 points, 140 rebounds and 50 assists. These totals led to Embiid posting eight double-doubles, which ranked second in the East and tied for fifth in the NBA.
Embiid scored in double figures in all 13 appearances in the month, including two 40-plus point performances. On Dec. 6, in a win at Charlotte, Embiid scored a season-high 43 points (15-20 FG, 1-2 3FG, 14-15 FT), while adding 15 rebounds and seven assists. He is one of two players to have a game of at least 40-15-5 this season.
In stringing together seven straight 30-plus point road games, Embiid joined Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Iverson as the only 76ers to ever post such a streak. The only other players to score 30-or-more in seven straight road games since the start of the 2010-11 season are James Harden, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant.
Utah’s Donovan Mitchell earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors for games played in December.
