Joel Embiid

Joel Hans Embiid ( born 16 March 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Embiid was a five-star recruit according to Rivals.com and committed to Kansas in November 2012.

Embiid attended the University of Kansas for one year alongside notable teammate Andrew Wiggins.

In 2013–14, he played 28 games, averaging 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game.

He had over 15 points in seven games and over 5 blocks in six games.

He subsequently earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named second-team All-Big 12.

After one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was drafted third overall by the 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft.

The 7 ft 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 2023.

On 13 February 2014, he was named one of the 30 finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year.

Embiid suffered a stress fracture in his back in March 2014.

He missed that year's Big 12 tournament and NCAA tournament.

Kansas lost in the second round (round of 32) of the NCAA tournament.

On 9 April 2014, Embiid declared for the 2014 NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility.

On 20 June 2014, he underwent surgery on a broken navicular bone in his right foot, and was subsequently ruled out for four to six months.

Six days later, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

That selection made him the third Cameroonian-born NBA player after Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje and Luc Mbah a Moute, as well as the highest selected player from Cameroon.

On 26 August 2014, Embiid signed his rookie scale contract with the 76ers.

He was later ruled unlikely to play at all in the 2014–15 season due to the broken navicular bone in his foot.

After missing the entire 2014–15 season, it was announced on 13 June 2015 that Embiid had suffered a setback in his recovery after a CT scan revealed less healing than anticipated.

It was later determined that Embiid's chances of playing in the 2015–16 season were slim following a second round of surgery on his right foot on 18 August 2015.

He missed the entire 2015–16 season.

Multiple foot and knee injuries delayed Embiid's debut for two seasons until 2016–17, when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team despite playing only 31 games.

He has nicknamed himself "the Process" in response to a refrain from 76ers fans during the Sam Hinkie era to "trust the process".

Embiid led the NBA in scoring during the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, becoming the first center to do so since Shaquille O'Neal (2000), and was also the first center since Moses Malone (1982) to average over 30 points per game, while also being the first foreign player to lead the NBA in scoring.

Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to military officer Thomas Embiid and his wife, Christine.

He played volleyball and soccer in childhood and originally planned to play professional volleyball in Europe but started playing basketball at age 15, modeling his game after NBA Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.

Embiid was discovered at a basketball camp by Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow native of Yaoundé and an NBA player.

With Mbah a Moute as his mentor, Embiid moved to the United States at age 16 to devote himself to becoming a professional basketball player.

Embiid enrolled at Montverde Academy, Mbah a Moute's alma mater, but transferred after his first year due to a lack of playing time.

He then attended The Rock School, a Christian academy, in Gainesville, Florida.

As a senior, he led their team to a 33–4 record and state championship, averaging 13.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.

On 4 October 2016, Embiid started at center in the 76ers' first preseason game against the Boston Celtics.

In his first action, he recorded six points, four rebounds, and two blocks in 13 minutes en route to a 92–89 victory.

On 26 October 2016, Embiid made his long-awaited NBA regular-season debut in the 76ers' season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In 25 minutes as the starting center, he recorded 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a 103–97 loss.

On 1 November, he recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 103–101 loss to the Orlando Magic.

On 11 November, his 25-point effort helped the 76ers claim their first win of the season, defeating the Indiana Pacers 109–105.

On 19 November, he scored a then-career high 26 points in 20 minutes in a 120–105 win over the Phoenix Suns.

On 1 December, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October and November.