Joel Embiid Named Eastern Conference POW

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played between Monday, January 16 and Sunday, January 22, the NBA announced today.

Embiid appeared in three games during the span and Philadelphia won each game he played in. For the week, he averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game. His 29 free throws made were tied with All-Star starter Jimmy Butler of Chicago for the most by an Eastern Conference player this past week, while his 11 blocks matched Golden State’s Draymond Green for the league lead.

He posted a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double last Monday at Milwaukee, adding five blocks and two steals to his totals. He is the only player in the NBA this season to post such number in a game this season. The Cameroon native scored 26 points and collected nine rebounds last Wednesday as the Sixers knocked off the Toronto Raptors, who are currently second in the Eastern Conference.

In his final game of the week, Embiid registered an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double this past Friday when the Sixers defeated the Trail Blazers. He matched his career-high with five assists and blocked four shots against Portland. Four players this season have registered games with 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four blocks – All-Star starters Kevin Durant (twice) of Golden State and Anthony Davis of New Orleans, as well as defending Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns of Minnesota.

Embiid is the eleventh Sixer ever to win a Player of the Week award and the first since Thaddeus Young was honored on January 6, 2014. He joins Michael Carter-Williams and 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Allen Iverson as the only two Sixers rookies ever to be named Player of the Week.

Named the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December, Embiid will be presented that award this upcoming Friday as the Sixers take on the Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. on ESPN.