Joel Embiid, Christian Braun’s Nuggets up for 2023 ESPY awards

This past season, former Kansas basketball phenom Joel Embiid took home perhaps the NBA’s most coveted individual honor.

Embiid was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player following an incredible season in his seventh year with the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid led the league in scoring during the regular season with 33.1 points per game. He was also top 10 in rebounds with 10.2 boards per game.

Because of that successful season, Embiid has found himself in line for another potential accolade at this year’s ESPYS.

The ESPYS is an annual award show put on by ESPN that recognizes the top athletes and sport performances of the year.

Embiid is one of four honorees up for the Best NBA Player award. He is joined by Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, and Nikola Jokic of the reigning champion Denver Nuggets – who figures to be Embiid’s toughest competition for the award.

Speaking of the Nuggets, they, including former Jayhawk Christian Braun, are up for the Best Team award at this year’s event following their recent NBA championship. It was the first NBA Finals appearance and win in franchise history.

Braun joined some historic company with the team’s win as well.

The Nuggets will be going up against the Georgia Bulldogs football team, the Oklahoma Sooners softball team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and the Kansas City Chiefs among others for the award.

Kansas fans can tune into the event to see how their former Jayhawks fare this Wednesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.