Joel Embiid, the NBA star who scored 70 points in one game and how he overcame the death of his 13-year-old brother in Cameroon

Joel Embiid He had one of those nights that every basketball player dreams of. They 70 points, more than half of Philadelphia 76ers win 133 to 123 against the San Antonio Spurs, transformed the performance of the 2.13 meter Cameroonian giant into one of the most exceptional in the history of NBA. And that’s a lot to say.

Just look at the reaction of Kevin Durant who was shocked to learn of such an achievement or the publication of such a legend Lebron James to take on the dimension of a feat that, without going further, neither of them has managed so far and that only three other players have managed to achieve in this century: Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard in 2023 and Devin Booker in 2017.

“There is only one dream”Embiid said The players’ stand in 2020, referring to Nigerian legend Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, who shined in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. “There’s only one Shaq (for Shaquille O’Neal). I don’t want to be the best in history. “I’m trying to be the best in the league.”, complete. And his performance this Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia brings him much closer to that ambitious goal.

In any case, his story, unlike that of many NBA stars of the past and present, is not that of someone who was clear from minute zero that he would reach the top. He stood out from a young age, yes, but he recalled in that 2020 interview when he missed his first practice of the year. Luc Mbah at the Moute Basketball Camp, a training camp aimed at children and adolescents interested in this sport.

“I was away so I could stay at home and play FIFA with Arthur (his brother). My mum was always very strict with the housework and was only on holiday, so we took advantage of that opportunity to relax and play video games. I didn’t think I had any chance of going to the NBA or playing at the college level in the United States. It wasn’t even a dream“, Be honest.

“The next day when my dad found out, he made sure I got into boot camp and then basically my whole life changed,” he added. There he discovered that his talent was serious. Yes, he could dream of the NBA.

That moment was a before and after, in his career and in his life.. For the better, obviously. Although he also remembers how difficult it was for him to leave Cameroon, abandon daily life with his family, especially with his brother, who was like his best friend, and settle in the United States. “We all have that person who always gives us positive energy, who is fun to be with, someone who always has your back, no matter what. For me, that was Arthur.”, he described it.

As if through a tube, Embiid made his way to the NBA, and despite being far from his beloved brother, they remained in constant contact. In 2014 he was elected in the third choose of the Philadelphia 76ers Draft and, in that same year of absolute ecstasy, the moment occurred that definitively stopped his life: Arthur’s death. Every now and then he returns to that moment.

“I got a call. Arthur was involved in a domestic accident. He was walking home from school with some of his classmates when he was hit by a truck. Just like that, my brother left. He was so full of life and he left. Nobody could believe it. It was a shock to our entire family and, honestly, it’s something we’re still dealing with,” he said with an open heart.

From there the perspective on sporting successes but also on failures changed. The best example was the heartbreaking loss to the Toronto Raptors in one of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2018-19 season, 92-20 with Kawhi Leonard’s BuzzerBeater bouncing off the rim four times before coming in and giving the Canadian the win franchising.

There was so much support that Embiid received from fans, as well as his teammates and several members of the 76ers after his brother’s death, that he began to long for the NBA ring more than as a great sporting achievement. That’s why, as he went to the locker room, he burst into tears. A dream that seemed close was collapsing.

“I don’t think I’ve ever shown that kind of emotion on a basketball court in my life. Basketball isn’t about life or death, but in this case it wasn’t about the game. “I had tears in my eyes when I left the court because of how much I wanted that title for the city and for my family,” summary.

His brother’s early departure led him to think about retirement. He thought several times about lowering his arms, but in the end he convinced himself that it was not the best solution, sometimes even against his own will. “I just kept going. There were a lot of days where I just wanted to get on a flight home. I wanted to give it all up, but I kept working to try to stay well, stay healthy. I felt that if I did it, my brother would be very proud of me,” counted and had its fruits. It was shipped with 70 points for the story and for the memory of little Arthur.

The 70 point club

After the perfect night against the Spurs, Joel Embiid became the ninth player to reach 70 points in an NBA game since Wilt Chamberlain who succeeded five times, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, David Robinson, Elgin Baylor and Devin Booker.

• Wilt Chamberlain (100)
• Kobe Bryant (81)
• Wilt Chamberlain (78)
• David Thompson (73)
• Wilt Chamberlain (73)
• Wilt Chamberlain (73)
• Wilt Chamberlain (72)
• Damian Lillard (71)
• Donovan Mitchell (71)
• David Robinson (71)
• Elgin Baylor (71)
• Joel Embiid (70)
• Devin Booker (70)
• Wilt Chamberlain (70)