Joel Embiid clinched the 2021-22 NBA scoring title Sunday, becoming the first international player to do so.
Embiid was already the overwhelming favorite to claim the first scoring title by a center since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000 heading into the final day of the regular season, but he clinched the honor when Giannis Antetokounmpo was ruled out of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ finale
Joel Embiid clinched the 2021-22 NBA scoring title Sunday, becoming the first international player to do so.
Embiid was already the overwhelming favorite to claim the first scoring title by a center since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000 heading into the final day of the regular season, but he clinched the honor when Giannis Antetokounmpo was ruled out of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, had Embiid scored zero points Sunday against the Detroit Pistons, Antetokounmpo would have had to score 47 against Cleveland to win the title. If Embiid hadn’t played, Antetokounmpo would have needed 78.
Embiid’s stiffest competition, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (30.3 PPG), didn’t qualify for the scoring title after a sprained ankle cost him the final few games of the season. James played in 56 games in 2021-22, under the 58-game threshold necessary to qualify for season-ending awards.
