Embiid's MVP Motivation
PJ Tucker Reveals How He Motivated Joel Embiid During His Unstoppable MVP Season
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PJ Tucker says he had to push Joel Embiid to stay locked in during his MVP season — because Embiid knew he was simply better than everyone else. "He dogged the league that year," Tucker said, according to Sacramento Bee. The candid admission gives a rare look inside what drove one of the most dominant individual seasons in recent NBA history.
Embiid had finished second in the MVP race in 2022. He came back angry. That next season, he averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game, per Miami Herald. Those numbers were so good that, according to Tucker, Embiid sometimes had to be reminded to stay focused.
Tucker Pushed Embiid When Confidence Turned Into Coasting
Tucker was a teammate of Embiid in Philadelphia during the MVP run. He says Embiid's confidence was sky-high — maybe too high. Tucker had to step in and keep him sharp. When a player is that good, it can be easy to go through the motions. Tucker made sure that did not happen, according to News Observer.
The message Tucker gave was simple: stay hungry. Embiid's talent was never in question. But Tucker saw a guy who knew he was the best in the league and needed someone to push him anyway. That kind of veteran accountability is rare — and it clearly worked.
Embiid's MVP Numbers Were Historic — But Games Played Remains a Problem
Embiid's 2022-23 MVP season was one for the record books. His 33.1 points per game led the league by a wide margin. He also shot efficiently while producing across every category. The award was seen as well-deserved and long overdue by many around the NBA, according to BND.
But availability has been a real concern. Over the last three seasons, Embiid has played in just 96 games. That is fewer than 32 games per year on average. Injuries have kept one of the game's best players off the floor more often than his team would like. That raises questions about how much Philly can count on him going forward.
New-Look Sixers Could Take Pressure Off Embiid's Shoulders
Tucker believes the situation in Philadelphia is changing in Embiid's favor. The Sixers have added more firepower around him. Tucker says the new roster has more talent than most teams can handle, according to Sacramento Bee. That depth means Embiid no longer has to do everything himself every single night.
For a player who has struggled to stay healthy, that luxury could make a big difference. Less pressure on Embiid's body. Less wear and tear over a long season. Tucker thinks a more balanced team could actually help Embiid stay on the floor — and stay dangerous when the playoffs arrive, per News Observer.
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