Philadelphia 76ers C Joel Embiid has been playing at an elite level, and on Wednesday, his elite play got a little recognition. Embiid was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in January
With the honor, Embiid becomes the first 76er to earn the award in consecutive months after being named Player of the Month for games played in December.
Earlier this week, Embiid was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played between January 24-30. The honor comes on the heels of Embiid’s fifth consecutive All-Star selection.
In his 14 appearances in January, Embiid averaged 34.0 points, which led all players, along with 10.8 rebounds (tied for ninth in the NBA, sixth in the East), 5.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks while shooting .542 from the floor in 32.1 minutes per game. He led the 76ers to an 11-3 record in his appearances and scored at least 25 points in each game. The only 76ers to average more points per game than Embiid in a calendar month, while appearing in at least ten games, are Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Iverson.
Embiid and Chamberlain are the only two players in franchise history to average at least 34-10-5 over a 14-game span. With his totals in points, rebounds, and assists for the month, Embiid joined Russell Westbrook as well as Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Chamberlain, and Oscar Robertson as the only six players in NBA history to reach such minimums over a 14-game span.
Since 1981-82, five players have averaged at least 34 points and 10 rebounds in a month while seeing action in at least 10 contests, including Embiid in January 2022. He joins Anthony Davis (Feb. 2018), Westbrook (March 2017), Hall of Famers Karl Malone (Jan. 1990), and Moses Malone (Feb. and March 1982).
His scoring run over the month was highlighted by his career-high-tying 50-point (17-23 FG, 15-17 FT), 12-rebound, and three-block performance in a win over the Orlando Magic on January 19. Embiid logged the fewest minutes played (27:03) in a 50-point, 10-rebound game in the shot-clock era.
On the season, Embiid is averaging 29.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game and is the only player in the NBA with such averages.
Denver’s Nikola Jokić was named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in January.
