Joel Embiid is a well-known Cameroonian professional basketball player who is one of the league’s most talented, resilient, optimistic, and determined stars.
Although he had his share of injuries and challenges early in his career while pursuing excellence in the NBA, he never backed out in the later difficulties.
Coming out of all the adversities, Joel Embiid is basketball’s fastest rising star and continues to shape his name in the industry.
He has dubbed himself “the Process” after 76ers fans urged him to “trust the process” during the Sam Hinkie era.
Despite playing only 31 games for his team in his rookie season, he was named the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
He was named to Cameroon’s preliminary team for the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket in the Republic of Congo, but he did not compete.
Let us discover more about him through the article here.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Joel Hans Embiid |
| Known as | Joel Embiid |
| Nickname | The Process |
| Birth Date | March 16, 1994 |
| Birth Place | Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| Residence | Not Available |
| Religion | Not Available |
| Nationality | Cameroonian |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Education | Montverde Academy, The Rock School (Gainesville, Florida), and Kansas (2013–2014) |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Father’s Name | Thomas Embiid |
| Mother’s Name | Christine Embiid |
| Siblings | Arthur & Muriel Embiid |
| Age | 28 years old |
| Height | 7 inches |
| Weight | 280 lb (127 kg) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Marital Status | Engaged |
| Girlfriend | Anne de Paula |
| Children | Arthur Embiid |
| Active since | 2014 – present |
| Teams | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Achievements |
|
| Endorsements | Amazon, Mountain Dew, Under Armour, and Electronic Arts (EA) |
| Net Worth | $35 million |
| NBA Draft Pick | 2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Position | Center & Power Forward |
| League | NBA |
| Merch | Basketball Card |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | July 2022 |
Early Years
Yaoundè, Cameroon, was the scene, and the year was 2009. When Joel Hans Embiid first picked up a basketball at the age of 15, he had no idea where it would lead him.
Prior to meeting Hakeem Olajuwon, Embiid, who spent the majority of his childhood as a volleyball player, had never given basketball a thought.
Joel was motivated by his grace and elegance on the court to try basketball, and so the journey began.
Embiid was a work in progress even when he lived in Kansas. Attending various basketball camps held in the Yaoundè region made this clear to him.
Because he was so new to the game, he frequently bounced the ball off his foot, tripped over a screen, and let passes pass right through his hands.
Despite lacking the required polish, Embiid was still recognizable. His quickness, outside jump shot, uncanny footwork, and shot-blocking ability were impressive.
The Cameroonian, who was only 15 years old, showed a skill set uncommon for players his size, drawing comparisons to his hero Mr. Olajuwon.
Days of High School
The first year of Joel Embiid’s education at Montverde Academy was still dotted with remnants of his time spent in Cameroon. Embiid’s first coach, Kevin Boyle, acknowledged that during his first unofficial practice, his teammates laughed a lot.
He was confused and occasionally klutzy when he was with his high school teammates, the majority of whom had been honing their skills for more than a decade. The play stood out.
He would not, however, leave his mark at Montverde because he decided to transfer due to a lack of playing time. In hindsight, it was probably the right choice.
Any player must gain experience in order to improve and perfect their fundamentals, which he was lacking at Montverde.
By 2012, Embiid was rated as a five-star recruit. He made his college commitment to Kansas, one of the nation’s recruiting powerhouses, in the fall before his senior year of high school.
Career in College
Embiid studied at the University of Kansas for a single year. On February 13, 2014, Joel was announced as one of the 30 finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year award.
In 2013–14, he made 28 appearances and played 23.1 minutes per game, averaging 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks.
In seven games, Joel notched at least 15 points and five shot blocks. He received second-team All-Big 12 honors and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award.
Embiid suffered a stress fracture in his back in March 2014. The Big 12 tournament and the NCAA Tournament that year were both off limits to him. In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Kansas was eliminated (Round of 32).
Don’t miss Marcus Paige’s career, LNB pro a, and family opportunities.
NFL Draft
Early in April 2014, Joel declared for the draft, and the top three were certain to include him. After a few practices with the Cavaliers and the timely healing of his back, experts predicted that he would be taken with the first overall pick.
Joel, however, underwent foot surgery to repair a broken navicular bone in his right foot just days before the draft. The procedure had not been kind to big men.
Many people never regain their agility and speed completely. In the same way that Greg Oden’s inability to stay healthy cost him a successful career, Embiid was now being characterized as an injury-prone big man.
The Cavaliers were reluctant to take such a chance because they were still in shock from the Anthony Bennett fiasco two years earlier. They went with Embiid’s teammate Andrew Wiggins as the safer option.
Joel was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the third round while Jabari Parker was the player the Bucks were most interested in.
Injury
Joel was forced to sit out the entire 2014–15 season after his surgery in June failed to heal. But after Joel recovered enough to briefly participate in the NBA summer league, things only got worse.
He needed a second surgery because the first one he had had complications. Insiders, Sixers, and staff were genuinely worried that their careers would be jeopardized by this setback. He might be grouped with Greg Oden.
And He overcame his setbacks eventually, and by the time preseason arrived, he was prepared to play.
He gave a few fleeting cameos that served to remind many of their initial attraction to him. Everyone was hoping he wouldn’t turn out like Oden because of his footwork, grace, rim protection, and quickness.
Expectations for the regular season have increased as a result of the strong preseason performance. Joel was the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year despite the Sixers’ crowded frontcourt. He still defies expectations in spite of this.
Age, height, and weight of Joel Embiid
Joel was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on March 16, 1994. The basketball player is thus 28 years old at the moment.
When on the court, Embiid is typically strong, but he can score from any point, shoot like a guard, and break through contact like a bullet through butter.
Joel weighs 280 lbs. and is an enormous 7 feet tall.
He performs better than most at the big things, the small things, and even the in-between things. Most importantly, Embiid is aware of his talent and consistently outplays rival teams and players.
Career
The Joel Embiid playing time will be restricted this season by the Sixers organization. Additionally, it was the wisest long-term choice given the circumstances. But for the time being, it hasn’t diminished his stellar performance.
In just 25 minutes per night, he averages over 19 points, over seven rebounds, and almost three blocks. That equals more than 27 points, 10 rebounds, and nearly 4 blocks per 36.
In his first season, Olajuwon averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks per 36 minutes.
On February 12, Embiid had his fourth triple-double of his career while leading the Boston Celtics to a 103-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with 40 points, 14 rebounds, ten assists, and three steals.
He achieved a 40-point triple-double, becoming the first Sixers player to do so since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.
On February 17, Embiid led his team to a 123-120 victory over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks with 42 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists.
Joel Embiid: Progression
In his current shape, Embiid merits more attention than he or his teammates who frequently go back to the basket have previously received. His progress covers a wide range of areas and affects both the creation and play of his game.
He’s become more deliberate with his 3-point attempts, making them at a rate (37.7 percent) that has turned a flimsy demonstration of versatility into a real threat despite shooting a career-low three per game.
His mid-range shooting has also improved, going from 41 percent (62nd percentile) to 47 percent (76th) between season 2021 and season 2022.
Embiid thinks that his mid-range game is what makes his diverse toolbox usable.
As his words imply, Embiid plays basketball with intelligence and method.
When compared to someone who didn’t begin playing until he was a teenager, he has picked up the game at a breakneck pace.
Embiid, Joel: Parents
Thomas and Christine Embiid, both from Cameroon, gave birth to Joel Embiid in Yaounde. In the Cameroonian army, Thomas Embiid served as a military officer, specifically as a colonel. In addition to serving in the military, Thomas played handball professionally.
The Arthur Embiid Foundation and the Angels Foundation were established by Cameroonian Christine Embiid.
Muriel and Arthur Embiid were the other two children Thomas and Christine Embiid had in addition to Joel. Arthur Embiid was killed in a car accident on October 16, 2014.
When he was young, Embiid’s mother wanted him to study medicine. However, she was powerless to resist sabotaging her son’s aspirations to play in the NBA. Instead, she offered him her unwavering support as he followed his passion.
Uncles are Joel Embiid’s Biggest Supporter
Uncle Didier Yanga played a significant role in Embiid’s upbringing. In order to reach Joe Touomou, the first Cameroonian to play in the NCAA, he took pictures of Joel playing outside his home.
Despite his parents’ skepticism about his prospects in the game, this led to Embiid taking his first steps.
He saw an NBA game in 2009 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic, where he fell in love with Kobe Bryant, before his big break.
Every time he touched a ball at a nearby court after that, he tried to emulate the Lakers legend, all the while giving his mother the impression that he was in his room doing homework.
About to give up
At the age of 16, Embiid traveled to the United States. He struggled with the language and had no family there.
He was considering giving up because he was the target of jokes when he struggled to catch passes from teammates or take advantage of simple opportunities.
Coach Kevin Boyle warned those who were making jokes, “Now you laugh.” However, because Joel will be wealthy in five years, you’ll be pleading with him for money then.
Click here to read Miles Bridges: Career, Net Worth & Controversy.
Friend: Joel Embiid
Despite dating since 2018, Joel Embiid and Anne have not yet tied the knot. Soon after Embiid appeared on the cover of GQ in October of last year, rumors of their involvement first started to circulate.
He discussed a few aspects of his love life in the interview. The mystery girlfriend that Embiid was referring to was assumed to be Anne de Paula after the article was published.
Earlier that month, the couple was spotted together in China for the NBA China Games.
Anne is a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. Although she was raised in Miami, Florida, she was born in Rio de Janeiro.
She began her career as a model in 2014, and the Wilhelmina modeling agency is her agent.
She was the subject of a background check because Embiid didn’t want to date or marry someone who had previously been with “someone else in the NBA,” he said in his GQ interview.
How Did Anne de Paula & Joel Embiid Meet?
Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula’s love story has been amazing.
They were introduced at a dinner in New York City in 2018 by a common friend. De Paula admitted to the publication that they didn’t speak much and that she was unaware he was a basketball player.
However, she claimed that night was the beginning of their “beautiful friendship” rather than the beginning of a romantic relationship.
The model claimed in an interview with ESPN that they clicked because they shared many interests in common, such as a love of soccer, proficiency in French, and a desire to one day start a family.
Son’s father
Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula’s son Arthur Embiid was born in good health. On September 17, 2020, Arthur was born weighing 8.8 pounds.
He weighs a lot more than the typical American newborn, by a significant margin. Maybe he was destined to grow up to be a colossus like his dad.
The Cameroonian native tweeted and posted on Instagram to announce the birth, writing;
Are there 11 or more to come? All I want to do is build a soccer team, and I’m trying to convince her, but I’m not having much success so far.
He tagged Anne de Paula, claiming that she is incredibly resilient and gave him life’s greatest gift.
Numerous reports claim that Arthur is named after the NBA player’s deceased brother.
Net worth of Joel Embiid
Sites like Wealthy Gorilla estimate Joel Embiid’s net worth to be $35 million in 2022.
With the 76ers, Embiid has developed his abilities, winning five NBA All-Star selections, and inking a five-year, $147.7 million deal in 2017.
It also included an extra $30 million if he made the first, second, or third team of the NBA or won MVP in 2017–18.
In 2021, Embiid agreed to a four-year, $196 million contract extension, reiterating his position as the 76ers’ captain and expressing his confidence in his team’s chances to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
He even came in at number 48 on Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes in the world in 2019. He is a strong favorite to win the NBA MVP Award in 2021–2022, which would help Philadelphia advance to the NBA Finals.
Embiid made an estimated $6 million from endorsement deals.
He entered into a contract with Under Armour in 2018. Among his other clients are well-known companies like Amazon, Mountain Dew, and Electronic Arts (EA).
Instagram presence
Embiid’s social media following has increased since he was selected by the Sixers in 2014 as he has embraced the spotlight.
Back then, Embiid had the persona of an online troll. He only recently outgrew it. But just because he doesn’t troll as frequently as he once did doesn’t mean he’s given up on it entirely.
You can follow him on his social media platforms as he knows how to keep his fans entertained via it. Below is the link to his social media accounts;
Instagram– 5.5M followers
Twitter– 2M followers
FAQs
Why is Joel Embiid out?
Joel Embiid has been ruled out of the Philadelphia 76ers’ game against the Miami Heat on March 28.
Embiid will miss the game due to back soreness, while Harden will miss the game as he recovers from a left hamstring injury.
Does Joel Embiid dunk?
In a match against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid delivered one of the best dunks of the NBA season.
Joel was already at the free-throw line after being fouled by Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen.
Will Embiid win MVP?
Following the All-Star break, Embiid is the +145 favorite to win this year’s MVP award, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
You may also like: Tony Finau