Joel Embiid Tops LeBron James With Performance vs. Thunder

On Saturday night, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in a nail-biting matchup with the OKC Thunder. They were able to steal a victory on the road, in large part due to the play of Joel Embiid.

After missing the Sixers' previous game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Embiid delivered in a big way against the Thunder. He nearly notched a triple-double for the second time this season, finishing with 35 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

With this performance, Embiid passed an all-time great in the record books. Saturday marked the 74th time in Embiid's career that he notched at least 35 points and 10 rebounds. That is now the highest number among active players, passing LA Lakers star LeBron James.

Yesterday, @sixers @JoelEmbiid posted his 74th career game with at least 35 points and 10 rebounds, breaking a tie with @KingJames for the most such performances among active @NBA players.

h/t @Stathead pic.twitter.com/dO0N0vo8oy
— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) November 26, 2023

Ironically enough, Embiid is preparing to square off against LeBron for the first time this season. The Sixers are scheduled to host the Lakers on Monday night.

Fresh off winning his first MVP, Embiid has continued to be one of the most dominant players in the NBA. His latest outing was the fifth time this season he reached the 35 points/10 rebound mark.

Embiid has always been a strong rebounder but has made a better effort to crash the glass on the offensive end. So far this season, he is averaging a career-high 3.2 offensive rebounds per game. These extra opportunities have led to extra scoring opportunities for himself and those around him.

Under new head coach Nick Nurse, Embiid has become one of the league's top all-around players. Based on his play through the first month of the season, the All-Star center is sure to add to his new record moving forward.