Joel Embiid Yelled ‘Kobe’ on the Fadeaway That Gave Him 24 Points

In Wednesday’s Hot Clicks: Joel Embiid pays tribute to his childhood hero, TNT dedicates all its coverage to Kobe and more.

“If it wasn’t for Kobe, I would probably be playing volleyball somewhere”

Joel Embiid had one of the most heartbreaking reactions to Kobe Bryant’s death when the news broke on Sunday. Embiid wrote about how Kobe’s performance in the 2010 NBA Finals, beating the Celtics in seven games and winning Finals MVP, inspired him as a teenager in Cameroon to start playing basketball. 

Man I don’t even know where to start😭😭 I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals. I had never watched ball before that and that finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!!

RIP LEGEND

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 26, 2020

For the Sixers’ first game since the tragedy, Embiid called up Philadelphia legend Bobby Jones to ask if he could wear Jones’s retired No. 24 as a tribute to Kobe. Jones agreed. 

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Embiid, who had missed the last nine games with a hand injury, wore No. 24 in a performance that would make Kobe proud. He dropped 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting and added 10 rebounds. 

The fourth-quarter shot that gave Embiid 24 points was a picture-perfect fadeaway straight out of Kobe’s playbook. Embiid said after the game that he yelled “Kobe” when he let the shot go. 

Joel Embiid wore No. 24 for Kobe tonight and scored 24 points.

On the Mamba's patented fadeaway to hit 24 points, Embiid says he yelled "Kobe!" pic.twitter.com/d3ttEbB9YU

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 29, 2020

Joel Embiid said he yelled out the classic "Kobe" when hitting the fadeaway jumper that got him to 24 points, though he didn't realize it was his 24th point. pic.twitter.com/zQrLYmOmIL

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020

“I didn’t know it was actually the 24th point as I shot that fadeaway,” Embiid told reporters. “That was what it was about. I actually yelled ‘Kobe!’ A lot of us, since I’ve been playing basketball, that’s how we’ve always done it. You shoot something in the trash and then you just go, ‘Kobe!’ That was cool. And for it be the 24th point, and me wearing 24, means a lot.”

After the game, Embiid expanded a bit on the size of the impact Kobe had on his life. He truly believes that if he hadn’t watched those Finals he never would have been an NBA player. 

"......if it wasn't for Kobe, I wouldn't have been here."

Joel Embiid caught up with @SerenaWinters to open up about Kobe Bryant's impact on him and the honor of wearing No.24. pic.twitter.com/oSqW9Ed8KD

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020

“When you think about where I came from and how I started playing the game, I go back to the first time I really watched basketball, which was in 2010, the Finals against Boston,” Embiid said. “That’s how I became a Kobe fan. I wanted to be like Kobe and I wanted to play basketball. A year later, it took a lot of convincing and I actually started playing ball. I’ve been saying since [Kobe died], I wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for that moment. If it wasn’t for Kobe, I would probably be playing volleyball somewhere or be a doctor.”

TNT’s Kobe special could not have been better

TNT’s Kobe Bryant memorial coverage was truly fantastic. I was hoping the network would upload the full first hour on YouTube (maybe they still will) but they did post many of the guests’ reflections, including these two long segments of Shaq and Dwyane Wade that got a lot of attention. 

Jerry West was also gut-wrenching. He said that the only thing that could compare to Kobe’s death was when his brother, David, died in the Korean War, which hit me really hard. 

Later in the night, TNT aired this great video package before dedicating an entire episode of Inside the NBA to Kobe. The network was supposed to be airing the Clippers-Lakers game, which was postponed, so they spent the entire block just talking about Kobe. 

There will never be another Kobe. pic.twitter.com/3vyRrYpP4L

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020

There are a bunch more remembrances on the NBA on TNT YouTube channel, including from Rick Fox, Steve Nash, Reggie Miller and Derek Fisher.

The best of SI

How the NBA should honor Kobe. ... Players at Super Bowl media day spent much of their time discussing Kobe Bryant’s legacy. ... These are Kobe’s best TV commercials. ... Lane Kiffin is beginning his fourth head coaching job at the age of just 45—and if he fails, it just may be his last.

Around the sports world

A German soccer coach is mad at his players for flying in a celebrity barber before a big game. ... Allen Iverson had $500,000 worth of jewelry stolen from him but the suspect has turned himself in. ... A sumo wrestler completed a massive upset to win a tournament and burst into tears.

Great tribute in Kobe’s hometown

The Sixers placed nine beams of light on the court and rang their ceremonial bell nine times tonight in remembrance of the nine lives lost in the helicopter crash, as well as honoring Kobe with a 33 second moment of silence, which was his Lower Merion number. pic.twitter.com/exctHsIAXU

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020

A few players changed their jersey numbers to honor Kobe

Sources: Orlando’s Terrence Ross has changed his jersey number from No. 8 to No. 31 in honor of the late Kobe Bryant, who wore Nos. 8 and 24. League evaluating this case-by-case. https://t.co/go557WBieX

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2020

To honor the late Kobe Bryant, Maurice Harkless (@moe_harkless) is switching from No. 8 to No. 11 for the #Clippers. #NBA @UniWatch pic.twitter.com/uqFZyujq6v

— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) January 29, 2020

Jerry Jones brought his massive yacht to the Super Bowl in Miami

Jerry Jones’ yacht is a large yacht pic.twitter.com/kEyFo7u69p

— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) January 28, 2020

Coach K got heated

When the Cameron Crazies started chanting at Jeff Capel (Pitt's head coach and a former Duke player), Coach K was not having it. pic.twitter.com/t2aRxu66IH

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 29, 2020

It’s true

In case anyone has forgotten, Vince Carter has been playing so long, he once wore tonight’s opponent’s throwback jersey. When it was just their jersey.

— Jeff Hannaford (inactive) (@jeffhannaford) January 29, 2020

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Absolutely brutal

So here is the reason I’m in Utah. I decided to offer a free clinic to the best young shooters in the state as a truce to try and mend my relationship with Utah fans. Here are the best shooters the state had to offer.... pic.twitter.com/ziJgaFP8En

— Vernon Maxwell (@VernonMaxwell11) January 28, 2020

From way downtown!

Junior guard Jordan Wood with the 85 footer for the win! @SCTopTen @overtime @sports_met @all_metelite @WashPostHS @NHS_Patriots @NHS_fansection pic.twitter.com/jKsoRgpIFr

— Northern Patriots Hoops (@NorthernHSHoops) January 28, 2020

They called offsides on a corner!

We'll take "Things that make you go hmmm" for $100, Alex. pic.twitter.com/pxWRE26OYc

— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) January 29, 2020

It’s always something with the Knicks

The Knicks honoring Anthony Mason on the wrong date of the anniversary of his death is classic #Knicks pic.twitter.com/IriXhwDwio

— Nick Mojica (@NickMojica89) January 28, 2020

These are crimes against jerseys

Not sports

Traffic on Manhattan’s FDR Drive came to a dead stop as someone tried to rescue a dog. ... An Arizona man was busted for driving in the HOV lane with a skeleton mannequin as his passenger. ... Emilio Estevez is reprising his role as Gordon Bombay for a Mighty Ducks Disney+ series.

Attention PR people reading this: do not do this to me

omg https://t.co/Yr9xArpflT pic.twitter.com/Oba9aTTFVz

— Kevin Raposo (@Kevin_Raposo) January 28, 2020

If global warming is real then how come the water is cold?

British man swims in freezing Antarctic waters to raise awareness about climate change pic.twitter.com/KOgYd5Kj5C

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 28, 2020

Normal guy, normal way to say hello to a dog

A good song

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