Kyle Kuzma’s Attempted Dunk On Joel Embiid Was So Crazy The Sixers’ Star Could Only Laugh

A highlight-reel play is usually best when it results in a made basket, but on rare occasions, a play or sequence is just so good that it needs to be celebrated. That’s what happened on Wednesday night during the Sixers-Lakers game at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The prime-time showdown between these two teams was understandably billed as a marquee match-up between some of the league’s brightest young stars such as Lonzo Ball, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons, but as has been standard operating procedure so far during his very brief career, Kyle Kuzma threatened to steal the spotlight.

He would’ve done so in spectacular fashion had he actually hammered home this wild dunk attempt on Embiid during the second quarter. Instead, he was only rewarded with free throws and a knowing look and laugh from Embiid after the near destruction of the Philadelphia star.

https://twitter.com/gifdsports/status/931018033971245058

Embiid’s reaction after the fact was a vastly understated part of this play. As he looked up to watch the replay on the Jumbotron, Embiid clearly realized that he had a near-death experience, and all he could do was try to laugh it off.

Kuzma, for his part, has been showing all game that he isn’t intimidated by Embiid’s presence in the paint. Early in the third quarter, Kuzma had 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting to go along with four rebounds.