The Philadelphia 76ers secured their first win over the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2013 as they came away with a 108-97 win at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night.The talented and exciting young Sixers came of age in this encounter as they went toe-to-toe with LeBron James and finally got the better of the league's best player. As usual, Joel Embiid was a major factor behind their victory as he posted 17 points and 14 rebounds. He also nailed the game-sealing shot down the stretch that proved to be the dagger for Cleveland and helped Philly pull away. The center was double teamed but was still able to nail a tough fadeaway jumper that hit nothing but net on its way down. 

The 23-year-old trolled a heckling Cavs fan sitting courtside after making the shot and hilariously told reporters after the game that he felt like Kobe Bryant. 

“The whole game, he was just talking. I thought it was funny,” Embiid said of the heckler, per Spencer Davis of Basketball Insiders. 

“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.”

To class himself as one of the best players in the world is a strong statement for Embiid to make as he's still early in his NBA career. 

There's no doubt that he's already one of the most dominant big men in the league and securing the 76ers a playoff spot this year will certainly strengthen his claim. 

The reality is, even though the All-Star still hasn't completed an 82-game season and has only recently started playing in back-to-backs, he is quickly becoming one of the best players in the league. 

'The Process' is averaging terrific numbers of 23.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game this season.

He has all the tools to forge a Hall of Fame career and make Philadelphia contenders in the years to come. 

If he continues on the path he's on, he can potentially compare himself to Kobe in another way; by winning championships. 

Making his first appearance in the postseason among the elite players this year would be another step in the right direction for Embiid.