Embiid, Joel << ehm BEED, joh EHL >> (1994-…), is an outstanding center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Embiid plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He stands 7 feet (213 centimeters) tall. Embiid has become known for his playful personality and his strong two-way (offensive and defensive) game.
Joel Hans Embiid was born on March 16, 1994, in Yaounde, Cameroon. As a child, Embiid displayed talent in both volleyball and soccer. He started playing basketball only around 2011, when he attended a basketball camp run by the Cameroonian NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute. Embiid displayed good agility for his size, and later that year he moved to the United States to play high school basketball. He played the 2013-2014 college season at the University of Kansas. After the season, he suffered a foot injury that required surgery. Despite the injury, Embiid was selected by the 76ers as the third pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
Embiid missed the 2014-2015 NBA season while recovering from the foot injury. He underwent foot surgery again in 2015 and missed the 2015-2016 season. In the 2016-2017 season, Embiid averaged about 20 points, 8 rebounds, and more than 2 blocks per game. The following year, Embiid ranked among the league leaders in scoring, rebounds, and blocks and was voted to his first All-Star team. Embiid has also been named to several All-NBA and All-Defensive teams, in recognition of his strong overall play. In the 2021-2022 season, he led the NBA in scoring with an average of 30.6 points per game. Embiid was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for his play during the 2022-2023 season. His 33.1 points per game led the league. In 2024, Embiid was a member of the United States national team that won the gold medal in the Summer Olympic Games held in Paris, France.
