Rockets Coach Ime Udoka 'Not Surprised' by Joel Embiid's 70-Point Performance vs. Spurs

Joel Embiid's 70-point performance against the Spurs has left the basketball world in awe, except for Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka.

HOUSTON — Joel Embiid scored a career-best 70 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 133-123 victory over the San Antonio Spurs Monday night. He shot 24 of 41 from the field, to go along with 18 rebounds and five assists inside the Wells Fargo Center.

Embiid's performance has left the basketball world in awe, as he became the third player in league history to tally 70 points — joining Devin Booker and Wilt Chamberlain.  

However, Embiid's epic scoring performance did not surprise Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who worked with the star big man as an assistant with the 76ers during the 2019-20 season.

"I've worked with Joel and know him very well — I am not surprised that he was able to get that because of his skill set," Udoka said. "For a guy of his size to have the touch, I.Q., he puts in the work. So, I am not surprised."

76ers center Joel Embiid scores past San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Udoka believes that Embiid's historic performance exemplifies how the game has evolved over the previous decade. Before the 2016-17 season, only Kobe Bryant (2006) and David Robinson (1994) were the only players who scored 70 or more points since David Thompson last achieved the feat in 1978. 

However, since Booker scored 70 points in March 2017, Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard have added their names to the 70-point club. They scored a career-high 71 points, respectively, last season. Lillard's scoring eruption came amid a Portland Trail Blazers' victory against the Rockets last February.

"His versatility is an advantage," Udoka said. "It is not the traditional back to the basket big. They take him out [of the post] and move him around. He is dangerous in that mid-range area. He can make those shots. The 3-point ball is going in. And he can get to the free throw line by imposing his will."

Udoka has never been a part of a 70-point performance as a player or coach, but he has been around a handful of players who added their names to the 50-point club.

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The best scoring performance Udoka seen in person came during the 2008-09 season when Hall-of-Fame point guard Tony Parker scored a career-best 55 points to lead the Spurs to a double-overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While Parker when for a career-night, Udoka came off the bench and added eight points, two rebounds and an assist in 21 minutes.

"The Spurs do not have a ton of high-scoring games," Udoka said. "I was on the court watching him do it. As a player, it affects you differently versus coaching it. It was very impressive to see it up close in person."