76ers star Embiid eyes MVP award

WASHINGTON - Eyeing his third NBA season in career, the Philadelphia 76ers star center

said Thursday that he's already focused on taking his game and his team to new heights.

"I want to win the MVP. I feel like at the end of the day it might be an individual award, but when I play better, the team also does. I feel like if I'm an MVP candidate or if I win the MVP, that means we are on another level," Embiid was quoted by Yahoo Sports as saying.

Last season, the center's statistics jumped to 22.9 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while Philadelphia reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"Last year, we had a goal. Our goals throughout the season change. First, it was to make the playoffs. We had a run at the end of the year. We were like, 'We have a chance.' We get to the first round, which was pretty, I would say easy. From there after, our goal was to go to the Finals. I feel we had the right pieces.

"We've come a long way. We won 52 games, which nobody thought would happen. We won 16 games in a row. We just thought that we had a chance to go to the Finals. Doesn't change. The approach doesnt change. Still the same."

Embiid said he's getting better in the summer. "I feel like I have everything. I just need to be more consistent. This is the first summer where I'm actually healthy and able to play basketball. I was pretty excited. It's just about working on everything, perfecting everything. I'm still learning a lot. I feel like I still have a lot of potential, a lot of stuff to show."