San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich might’ve been joking about how his team was going to try and shut down Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid, but the message was received all the same.
Embiid dropped a career-high 70 points on the Spurs during a 133-123 home win on Monday night, made even more special by the fact that it came on the anniversary of basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game in 2006.
He’s only the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 or more in a game.
To make the accomplishment even sweeter, Popovich joked about how Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama was going to take on Embiid for the first time by saying that San Antonio was going to “hammer [Embiid’s] [expletive].”
Some NSFW language to follow.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reveals what Victor Wembanyama's game plan will be tonight against the reigning MVP:
"We're gonna hammer his a$%." 😮 pic.twitter.com/8ZEvtyuEEv
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 22, 2024
It was indeed Embiid who got the last laugh with a historic performance on the court, one that had NBA fans chuckling at the irony of Popovich’s wisecrack coming right before an offensive takedown from Embiid.
🔨🔨🔨 pic.twitter.com/Yaww8sHuFf
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 23, 2024
Gregg Popovich before the game: "We're gonna hammer his a**"
Gregg Popovich watching Embiid right now: pic.twitter.com/iiNO1JMHvR
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) January 23, 2024
You mean don’t tell Embiid you said that lmao 34 at half https://t.co/phtbK4b3Gc
— June (@June_1213) January 23, 2024
Why did you say this Pop? 🤦🏾♀️ Meanwhile, Embeast is hammering & I love this for us. 😂 https://t.co/QAIWSlocSR
— Safula Lewis (@LewisSafula) January 23, 2024
https://t.co/uWx7J21oLS pic.twitter.com/CI0T5z4Llc
— Jawn (@The_WalkingJohn) January 23, 2024
can’t make it up! so funny! 70 points. Pop being Pop ! 😂 https://t.co/SiAczKl3Ch
— Matt Migdon (@MattyMig) January 23, 2024
I highly doubt it. But much respect to Pop https://t.co/XBDcFHUYNa
— Rick Moskeson 🕊 (@phillylefty) January 22, 2024
@OldTakesExposed https://t.co/v7mjN7dOZR
— Himothy (@yosty1997) January 23, 2024
I think every time Pop has said something as a joke towards an opposing star, the opposing star proceeds to drop like 50+ on us. https://t.co/a1Q3TLXSyU
— Dylan (Can’t Spell)(idiot) (@DylanDavis22002) January 23, 2024
He’s at 65 points and 4 minutes to go https://t.co/RhQ6FamuhR
— Damian (@DameDashJRJR) January 23, 2024
You sure showed him 🤣 https://t.co/YesighUNLZ
— Gagne (@szymon_pumba) January 23, 2024
Life comes at you fast https://t.co/JBFtMfVB5R
— Romey Rome (@RomeTrth) January 23, 2024
— Tuff (Eric Gordon Stan) (@TuffPlayz) January 23, 2024
