Philadelphia 76ers superstar big man Joel Embiid has his eyes on the prize which will ultimately give him that ultimate acknowledgment.
A championship.
“What I can control is to try to win a championship,” Embiid told FOX Sports’ Melissa Rohlin. “And I feel like that’s the only way I’m going to get that respect. So, that’s where all the focus is.”
Amid establishing MVP-type of numbers in the last two seasons, Embiid was toppled by fellow star big man Nikola Jokic in the back-to-back races. While he was vocal about the disappointments of what he believed was a much deserving winner in him, the Cameroonian big man is shifting his focus to clinch a title.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Embiid said about his inclusion with Jokic on MVP debates. ” … I just want to be respected. I’m competitive, so I play this game to be up there when you talk about the best basketball players ever. I know for that, you need awards, you need championships and all of that stuff. It’s unfortunate because I don’t get to decide on the individual awards.”
The Sixers are poised for another possible title hunt this season. Holding the third-best record in the East with a 40-21 card, Embiid together with James Harden and the co. certainly has their solid shot to win it all
“Being in this position the last two or three years or whatever is the same thing, so it’s like, ‘Eh, OK, just focus on the one thing I can control,’” Embiid added. “And if it happens, whatever. But if I do win a championship, that would be better than anything else.”
