Joel Embiid says his play, Philadelphia 76ers' challenges should make him MVP

CLEVELAND — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid declared «the way I've been playing speaks for itself» when asked why he should be the NBA's Most Valuable Player this season.

«I don't want to push for the whole thing, but the way I've been playing speaks for itself,» Embiid said Saturday afternoon during his All-Star Weekend media availability. «Especially with everything we went through, the drama this whole year, obviously missing a big piece, and then everything that happened to our team, and the way our team is set up.

»So, I knew had to take my game to another level, whether it was offensively, defensively or playmaking, and I've got great teammates that are coming in every single day and giving their all on the floor. But it always goes back to winning. As long as we win, I'll be at that level and have a chance to win it all and win the MVP.

«But to answer your question, the play speaks for itself. Every single night, that's what I've been doing offensively and defensively and I don't plan on stopping.»

Embiid has been dominant all season for the 76ers, leading the NBA in scoring entering the All-Star Break at 29.6 points per game to go along with 11.2 rebounds and a career-high 4.5 assists. And he's done it all with the specter of Ben Simmons' trade demand hanging over his team all season.

That, however, is now gone, thanks to last week's trade that saw James Harden come to Philadelphia in exchange for Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and a pair of first-round picks. Embiid, however, is still very much front and center in Philadelphia's hopes to win its first championship in almost 40 years.

It's also put Embiid in position to win his first MVP award, after coming in second in the voting last season. In