Joel Embiid admitted he has been looking forward to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award, but when asked if he saw himself as one, the Philadelphia 76ers answered with a drop of humility:

“This year so far? I wouldn't say me, because I've been trash, but I'm definitely top three,” said Embiid, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

Embiid is rebounding at a top pace this year, third in the league in snagging boards at 13.3 per game and ninth in the league in blocks after a season-high five-rejection effort against the Utah Jazz and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.

The Sixers big man often carries a lot of the offensive load and could be the first since Kawhi Leonard to win it while averaging more than 20 points per game as well.

Embiid's current line of 26.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game puts him as the best center in the league, but the DPOY award will require a bit more shot blocking and game-impacting defensive play to turn the tide his way.

Head coach Brett Brown lobbied for his guy after Embiid terrorized the Jazz at the rim, but Embiid knows there's more he needs to do at the defensive end to give himself a chance for the award.

Furthermore, out of the top-10 shot blockers in the league, Joel Embiid ranks ninth in block-to-foul ratio at 0.56 — posting only a slightly better mark than Andre Drummond in that crucial category.