Ayrton Oneill
Cameroonian-American basketball player Joel Hans Embiid, who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA, was born on March 16, 1994. Embiid grew up playing soccer and volleyball and only started playing basketball at the age of 15 when he was spotted by former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute at a camp in 2011. After moving to the United States, he played high school basketball at The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida, before going on to play college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Started playing basketball | 15 years old |
| Country where he started playing basketball | Cameroon |
| Year he moved to the US | 2011 |
| High school | The Rock School, Gainesville, Florida |
| College | Kansas University |
| NBA draft year | 2014 |
| NBA draft position | 3rd overall |
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What You'll Learn
Joel Embiid's early life and introduction to basketball
Joel Embiid, born on March 16, 1994, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, is the son of Thomas and Christine Embiid. Thomas, a colonel in the Cameroonian military, was also a competitive handball player. Joel grew up playing several sports, including volleyball and soccer. At one point, he even aspired to pursue a career in volleyball. However, his path changed when he started playing basketball at the age of 15.
In 2010, Thomas Embiid met with Joe Touomou, the first Cameroonian to play Division I basketball in the United States. Touomou encouraged Thomas to let Joel focus on basketball, famously saying, "If you let him play basketball, he might not need to go to school. Someday he might be able to buy his own school."
Joel Embiid's talent and potential were soon recognized, and he was spotted by former NBA player Luc Richard Mbah a Moute at a camp in 2011. This encounter influenced his decision to pursue high school basketball in the United States. He enrolled at The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida, and seized the opportunity to showcase his skills in both the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoops Summit.
Embiid's dedication and hard work paid off as he earned a basketball scholarship to Kansas University. He played one season of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks in 2013-2014, averaging 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. His impressive performance led to him being drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft, marking the beginning of his professional basketball career.
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Embiid's high school and college basketball career
Joel Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on March 16, 1994. He grew up playing mostly volleyball and soccer. In 2011, at the age of 16, Embiid was spotted by former NBA player Luc Richard Mbah a Moute at a basketball camp. Mbah a Moute, who was also a native of Yaoundé, became Embiid's mentor and influenced his decision to move to the United States to pursue a career in basketball.
Embiid enrolled at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, for his high school education. However, due to a lack of playing time, he transferred to The Rock School, a Christian academy also in Gainesville, after his first year. As a senior, Embiid excelled, leading his team to a 33–4 record and a state championship. He averaged 13.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Rivals.com ranked him as a five-star recruit, and in November 2012, he committed to playing college basketball at the University of Kansas.
In his freshman year at Kansas, Embiid played alongside future NBA star Andrew Wiggins. On February 13, 2014, he was named one of the 30 finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year award. After just one year of college basketball, Embiid declared for the 2014 NBA draft, where he was selected third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.
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The 2014 NBA draft
Joel Embiid, a Cameroonian-American basketball player, was drafted third overall by the 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft. The 2014 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2014, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The draft lottery took place on May 7, 2014, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the first overall pick. This was the fourth number-one pick for the Cavaliers since 2003 and the third number-one pick in four years.
Joel Embiid, born in 1994, was eligible for the 2014 NBA draft after playing one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks. Embiid's debut was delayed for two seasons due to multiple foot and knee injuries, but he eventually started his first preseason game in 2016. Embiid has since become a seven-time NBA All-Star, a five-time member of the All-NBA Team, and a two-time NBA scoring champion. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2023.
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Embiid's professional career with the Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid, a Cameroonian-American, began playing basketball in high school in the United States after being spotted by former NBA player Luc Richard Mbah a Moute at a camp in 2011. He enrolled at The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida, and played in the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoops Summit before receiving a basketball scholarship to Kansas University. After one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft.
Embiid's debut was delayed for two seasons due to multiple foot and knee injuries. He finally started his first career preseason game in 2016, two years after being drafted. In his debut, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder beat the 76ers, with Embiid fouling out in 14 minutes. However, Embiid was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in the 2016-17 season, despite playing only 31 games. He nicknamed himself "The Process" to embrace the era in 76ers history in which he began his career.
In the 2017-18 season, Embiid was named a starter for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, becoming the first Philadelphia player selected as an All-Star starter since Allen Iverson in the 2009-10 season. On 15 November, he scored a then-career-high 46 points, the most by a Philadelphia player in 11 years, and grabbed 15 rebounds in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Embiid continued to star for the 76ers in the following seasons, being named to the All-NBA Team in five consecutive seasons (2018-2022) and the All-Defensive Team in three consecutive seasons (2018, 2019, 2020). He also led the 76ers to a 112-104 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets in February 2020, scoring a then-season-high 39 points along with 16 rebounds.
In the 2023-24 season, Embiid averaged 34.7 points, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 11 rebounds per game. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2023, his seventh All-Star nod. On January 22, 2024, Embiid recorded 70 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists against the San Antonio Spurs, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's 68-point franchise record.
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Awards and accolades
Joel Embiid is a seven-time NBA All-Star, a five-time member of the All-NBA Team, a three-time member of the All-Defensive Team, and a two-time NBA scoring champion. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2022-23 season. Embiid also won a gold medal with the 2024 U.S. Olympic team.
In his rookie season, Embiid took home three Rookie of the Month awards. He has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month six times, with three of those awards coming in the 2023-24 season. Embiid has earned NBA Player of the Week honours 12 times in his career, with the most recent coming in November 2023.
Embiid was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in the 2016-17 season, despite playing only 31 games. In 2021, he donated his NBA All-Star Game winnings to fight homelessness in Philadelphia, for which he received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award.
In the 2023-24 season, Embiid averaged 34.7 points, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 11 rebounds per game. On 22 January 2024, he recorded 70 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists against the San Antonio Spurs, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's franchise record.
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Frequently asked questions
Joel Embiid started playing basketball at the age of 15.
Yes, Embiid played soccer and volleyball while growing up in Cameroon.
Embiid moved to the United States at the age of 16, after being spotted by former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute at a basketball camp in Africa.
After being drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft, Embiid's debut was delayed by injuries until the 2016-17 season.
