Monday night, Joel Embiid set the franchise record for points in a Philadelphia 76ers‘ jersey with a 70-piece nugget for Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Earlier that day, when the head coach of the Spurs, Greg Popovich, was asked how they would slow down the reigning MVP, he said that they would “blitz” him. During the game, they indeed sent two, and sometimes even three, players to guard him, but Joel was unfazed.
He finished the first quarter with 24 points. That’s when everyone realized that Embiid had heard Pop’s comments before the game, and he did not let up on the young rookie at all. When he walked onto the court and saw how tall the rookie from France was, he couldn’t believe it.
The experience was deemed to be too much last night for the rookie who tried to hold his own. Finishing with 33 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.
Wemby was asked after the game about Embiid’s historical game, which he said was inspiring.
Embiid scored 46 points on 24 field goals, shooting over 55% from the field. He also made 21 free throws and one three-pointer.
Embiid became the third big man in the history of the NBA to have 70 points in a game, David Robinson and Wilt Chamberlin is great company to be within.
In the post-game press conference, Embiid mentioned how Kobe Bryant was the inspiration for him starting basketball in his late teenage years and growing to love it. On the anniversary, 18 years later, Embiid is setting records.
“From the time I started playing, Kobe was my guy when I started playing basketball,” Embiid told the media. ” And it is funny because on the same night, he had 81 then you know.” He also expressed his hope that Victor continues to improve and eventually has a game like his, although he jokingly added that he hopes it happens after he retires.
The Sixers have two days off before they take on an Indiana Pacers team that will be without star point guard Tyrese Halliburton.
Check out some of the best reactions from NBA Twitter below.
