Joel Embiid’s remarkable performance symbolizes the NBA’s new era

Remarkable accomplishments are becoming more frequent, with records being set in pencil as they are bound to be surpassed by even more substantial numbers in the near future.

We are witnessing the dawn of a new era in the NBA, characterized by a need for a distinctive label. Centers are now showcasing improved three-point shooting skills, surpassing not only their own historical performances but also outshooting many other players in the league. Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns exemplify the NBA’s transformation from traditional back-to-the-basket bruisers to versatile scorers. Their recent historic performances, both occurring on the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s legendary 81-point game in 2006, underscore this evolution.

During the Philadelphia 76ers’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Joel Embiid made a significant mark by scoring 59 of his franchise-record 70 points before the start of the fourth quarter. Simultaneously, Karl-Anthony Towns was in hot pursuit, displaying his versatility from the 3-point line to the 3-point line, amassing 44 points by halftime in Minnesota’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Towns couldn’t maintain the initial scoring pace of 88 points but still posted an impressive 62 points in Minnesota’s disappointing 128-125 loss at the Target Center. Notably, he connected on his first eight three-point attempts of the night.

The last time a pair of players had a similarly remarkable scoring night was in the 1977-78 season finale when David Thompson and George Gervin engaged in a memorable duel while vying for the scoring title. Thompson had scored 73 points earlier in the day, typically a scoring feat that would secure such an accolade. However, Gervin recognized that he needed 59 points to claim the title. In response, he put up an extraordinary 63 points later that evening, solidifying their matchup as one of the greatest duels in the history of the game.

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Over four decades ago, during a significant and not-so-random night, David Thompson and George Gervin engaged in a memorable duel, both striving for the scoring title in the 1977-78 season finale. Thompson’s impressive 73-point performance seemed sufficient, but Gervin, realizing he needed 59 points to claim the title, responded with an outstanding 63 points later that evening, creating one of the game’s greatest duels.

Fast forward to the present, and the landscape of the NBA continues to surprise. On a recent evening, reminiscent of that historic showdown, Gervin’s basketball godson, Kevin Durant, showcased his skills by scoring 30 points in the second half and a total of 43, leading the Phoenix Suns to a comeback victory over the Chicago Bulls. Durant sealed the win with a double-clutch hanging jumper, securing the Suns’ final advantage with just 1.6 seconds remaining.

In today’s NBA, you never know what to expect on any given night. However, Joel Embiid seems to be an exception. His impressive streak of scoring 30 or more points extended to 21 games, highlighting the remarkable development of his skills over the past decade since entering the league.

While lacking multiple championships or MVP awards, Embiid, the reigning MVP, possesses an extensive repertoire of shots and scoring capabilities. His shooting touch is compared to, and possibly surpasses, his predecessors like Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon. On track for his third consecutive scoring title, Embiid’s 35 points per game average, before a recent explosion, rivals the scoring prowess of James Harden in 2018-19 (36.1 points per game) and Kobe Bryant in 2005-06 (35.4 points per game). Notably, that same season, Bryant had an extraordinary performance against the Raptors, considered one of the greatest single-game feats captured on film.

Embiid’s remarkable night carries a fitting context, considering his deep admiration for Kobe Bryant. Expressing his reverence, Embiid mentioned, “From the time I started playing, Kobe was my guy. He’s the reason why I started playing basketball.” The night was particularly special as it coincided with the anniversary of Kobe’s iconic 81-point game.

Adding historical context, Bryant’s 81-point game occurred in a different era of the NBA. It wasn’t the season of his streak of nine straight 40-point games in 2002-03, but the league’s style of play was more physical. In 2003, the league average per team was 95.1 points per game, and even by 2006, a year into the Suns’ “Seven Seconds or Less” offense led by Steve Nash, the league average only slightly increased to 97 points per game.

In the year Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, only five teams averaged over 100 points. Presently, no team scores fewer than 107.5 (Portland), and the Indiana Pacers have an average of 125 points.

Looking ahead, when Victor Wembanyama, who witnessed Joel Embiid’s remarkable performance firsthand and expressed being inspired by it, reaches his prime, he may find himself surpassing these astronomical scoring numbers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, commenting on Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns’ extraordinary performances, acknowledged the abundance of talent in the league. As he reflected on the possibility of players scoring 50, 60, 70, or even 80 or 100 points on any given night, Antetokounmpo briefly paused on his way to the Bucks’ team bus in Detroit.

Initially, the idea might seem outrageous, but upon further consideration, it no longer appears as far-fetched.