Sixers video: Joel Embiid on his game-sealing fadeaway

In the win by the Sixers over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Joel Embiid harkened back to a certain Los Angeles Lakers legend by the name of Kobe Bryant, who frequently made those exact same types of shots during his 20-year career.

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers managed to seal a game with a pretty fadeaway jumper that swished in despite getting double-teamed.

Sound familiar?

In Philadelphia's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Embiid harkened back to a certain Los Angeles Lakers legend by the name of Kobe Bryant, who frequently made those exact same types of shots during his 20-year career.

HOW DOES SOMEONE 7-FEET TALL HAVE A GAME THIS SMOOTH?

Joel Embiid is something DIFFERENT. 👀 (via @Sixers) https://t.co/38AgIv270w

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 2, 2018

It's not a coincidence that Bryant came to mind when Embiid made that shot. Embiid himself mentioned the five-time NBA champion in a postgame interview, per Spencer Davis of Basketball Insiders.

When Embiid made the shot, he turned to a heckler sitting courtside and gave a clap-back in a way only he could.

“The whole game, he was just talking. I thought it was funny,” Embiid told reporters. “As soon as I caught that ball, I think he was saying I suck and I can't score. And then the double-team came, but I was already into my fadeaway. So I felt like Kobe and I shot it. And then I made it and I made sure to let them know that, well, I'm one of the best players in the league — in the world.”

Watch the video below for Embiid's full comments.

Asked Joel Embiid about his clutch fadeaway in tonight's game in Cleveland and the heckler in the crowd. His response after making it? "I felt like Kobe." #Sixers pic.twitter.com/4JvzM2V0nr

— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) March 2, 2018

One of the best players in the world. Wow. What a statement. The feeling-like-Kobe thing is fine. Weird, but fine.

But calling himself one of the best players in the world after a rookie year where he only played 31 games and a sophomore year where he only started playing back to backs? Really?

The answer is yes. Joel Embiid is already one of the best players in the world and he should have won Rookie of the Year last year. He has all the tools already, and he's just going to get better.

And if Embiid continues on this trajectory, he will start feeling a lot more like Kobe Bryant when he starts to rack up championships.

Sixers video: Joel Embiid on his game-sealing fadeaway - 'I felt like Kobe'