Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have claimed the NBA MVP award for January in the West and East, respectively.
The two-time reigning NBA MVP wins the monthly award for the first time this season and the fifth in his career.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in January. pic.twitter.com/IcSeFvxVmM
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 2, 2023
Nikola Jokic averaged a triple-double during January with 24 points, 11.6 rebounds and 11.3 assists. The Serbian big man recorded eight triple-doubles, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only centers in NBA history to record eight or more triple-doubles in a single month.
Jokic, who leads the league in triple-doubles this season with 16, powered the Nuggets to a 10-2 record in the 12 games he played in January as Denver sits atop the West standings with a 35-16 record.
For the second straight month, and sixth in his career, Joel Embiid has claimed the NBA MVP of the Month award in the Eastern Conference.
Embiid posted a league-best 34.9 points, 10.7 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks in 10 games during the month.
The MVP candidate scored 30 points or more in nine of his 10 games, including a streak of seven straight from January 2 to January 19. Joel Embiid led the Sixers to an 11-3 record in January, the best record in the NBA.
Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid will play in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City on February 19, as they are part of the full rosters the NBA announced on Thursday.
