The Philadelphia 76ers pulled out a much-needed win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, taking down that Western Conference rival 1201-10.
Joel Embiid was the main reason why the 76ers succeeded as he scored 41 points, yet another instance of him putting up superstar numbers.
But when the game was done, he didn’t speak about his own night but instead focused on someone else’s performance.
Joel Embiid on Kawhi Leonard:
"He looks amazing. You can count on him to turn into Michael Jordan in the playoffs. He looks great now, but I think he's gonna be even better once you get to the playoffs." pic.twitter.com/hUenFUMMdD
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 18, 2023
Embiid had nothing but praise for Kawhi Leonard, who scored 27 points against Embiid and his 76ers.
Here is what Embiid had to say about Leonard:
“He looks amazing. You can count on him to turn into Michael Jordan in the playoffs. He looks great now, but I think he’s gonna be even better once you get to the playoffs.”
Leonard has had an influence on a number of NBA stars, including Embiid.
You can understand why: the two-time champion is a five-time All-NBA player and a seven-time All-Defensive player.
He was also named Finals MVP twice.
Over the last few years, some people have forgotten just how great Leonard can be.
Due to injury, he missed an entire year and has been getting back onto the court with this team, albeit very slowly.
During his limited time in 2022-23, Leonard has shown that he can still be a powerful player with his 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 48.2% from the field.
The more Leonard plays, the better he looks and it feels like he is gaining steam, getting more comfortable, and looking like his old self again.
But is it too late for his Clippers?
The team is now the 7th team in the West and they will have to play some nearly flawless basketball for the rest of the season if they wish to make it into the playoffs and possibly the Finals.
If Leonard stays healthy he will be even better in the playoffs, just like Embiid said.
NEXT: The Clippers May Make A Surprising Trade