Joel Embiid

Joel Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Philadelphia 76ers and is currently playing his ninth NBA season. He was the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He is a modern NBA center who can bang in the post as well as spot up from the perimeter. Although multiple injuries delayed his debut, he has made up for lost time and has become an NBA superstar. He was a seven-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA Team member, and a three-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team.

Early Life

Joel Embiid was born on March 16, 1994, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He played soccer and volleyball as a child and only started playing basketball when he turned 15. He was discovered at a basketball camp held in his hometown by Luc Mbah a Moute. To pursue his newfound dream of playing professional basketball, he transferred to Montverde Academy, Florida. Due to a lack of playing time, Joel transferred to The Rock School where he finished off his high school career. He played his college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks where he would earn many conference accolades before declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft.

NBA Journey

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Joel with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He underwent surgeries for a foot injury that kept him out for the entirety of the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 NBA Seasons. During the 2016-2017 season, he made his long-awaited debut and played 31 games. Despite the minimal amount of game time, Joel had a big impact on his team and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Joel earned his first NBA All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive Team selections in his sophomore year. He quickly became one of the best big men in the league but injuries would hinder his minutes.

The 2020-2021 season was his best season in the NBA. He finished second in the MVP race. Had he not missed 21 regular season games, he probably would’ve finished ahead of the eventual winner, Nikola Jokić. The season ended in disappointment as the 76ers lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the playoffs.

In the 2021-22 NBA season, Joel Embiid dominated offensively. He was named the NBA scoring champion, averaging 30.6 points per game. He became the first center to achieve this since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 and the first center to average 30+ points since Moses Malone in 1982. However, the 76ers lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Miami Heat in six games. Embiid missed the first two games of the series due to injury, which impacted the team's chances.

In the 2022-23 season, Embiid elevated his game further, averaging 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He won the league MVP award, becoming the fifth 76er to earn the honor. Despite his incredible season, the 76ers were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They held a 2-1 series lead and later a 3-2 advantage with a chance to close out at home but eventually lost the series in seven games.

In the 2023-24 season, Embiid started strong with historic performances. On January 22, 2024, he scored 70 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists in a single game. He also became the first player in NBA history to average 40+ points in a month on 60% shooting. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to only 39 games that season. The 76ers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, losing in six games to the New York Knicks.

Records

• In the 2017 season, while playing against the LA Lakers, Embiid recorded a then-career-high 46 points, the most by a Philadelphia player in 11 years, and pulled down 15 rebounds.

• He was selected as a starter for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, making him the first Philadelphian player chosen as a starter since Allen Iverson.

• He became the seventh player in NBA history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 200 blocks in his first 100 games.

• He became the first Sixers player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968 to record a 40-point, triple-double.

• In the 2021-22 season, Embiid was named the NBA scoring champion, being the first center to win the award since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.

• Since blocks became an official stat in the 1973–74 season, he became the only player in NBA history to have 50 points, 10 boards, five assists, and five blocks in a single game.

• In just 373 games, he surpassed Allen Iverson to become the Sixers player with the fastest career 10,000-point total.

• Ninth player in history to score 70 or more points in a game. Just third center to score 70 points (After Wilt Chamberlain and David Robinson).
• Only player in NBA history to average 40 or more points in a month on 60% field goal shooting.
• Third player in NBA history to have more than 20 consecutive games of 30+ points in a game. Streak of 22 such games. (After Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden).

NBA Accolades

Joel Embiid Net Worth

Joel Embiid has amassed a net worth of around $85 million. His current NBA Contract will pay him $213,280,928 through the 2026-2027 season. He signed a four-year $213.28 million extension which started from the 2023-2024 season. Embiid signed another three-year extension with the 76ers in September 2024 that keeps him with the 76ers through the 2028-29 season.

Embiid is estimated to earn around $10 million from his endorsement deals in 2024-25. His latest deals include one with Under Armour in 2018. Among his other deals are major companies like Amazon, Mountain Dew, Crypto.com, Sketchers, and Electronic Arts (EA).

Read more about Joel Embiid net worth.

Family

Joel was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon to Thomas and Christine Embiid. He has a younger sister whose name is Muriel. His younger brother, Arthur, passed away in 2014 in a car accident. He is currently dating Anne de Paula with whom he has a son. He named his son after his younger brother.

Wife

The American Center for the Philadelphia 76ers has been dating a Brazilian model Anne de Paula since 2018. She started modeling at the age of 13, and in 2017, after appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, she received international attention. They both started as friends before entering into the relationship. She was raised playing soccer and was born in Rio de Janeiro, one of the largest cities in Brazil. The couple together welcomed their first child, Arthur, in September 2020.

Recently, it was reported that on July 22, 2023, the beautiful pair officially got married to start a new chapter in their lives. According to the People website, the celebrity couple got married in Southampton, New York on Cryder Beach and exchanged vows in a church ceremony.

Read more about Joel Embiid's wife.

Shoes

Joel Embiid is currently signed with Sketchers and mostly wears their Skechers SKX Float shoes. Embiid's new endorsement deal with the Skechers was first reported in October 2023 and it was finalized in April 2024. Since April 2024, Joel Embiid has been seen wearing his size 17 Skechers shoes in the games.

Getting Embiid on board is a big deal for the Skechers, who signed their first megastar from the NBA. The details of the deal are not disclosed yet. However, soon after the deal, in the 2023-24 season, Joel Embiid is seen wearing the new shoes from Skechers, i.e., Skechers SKX Float.

Skechers SKX Float features a breathable mesh upper with lace closure, a comfortable mid-top design, and a cushioned midsole with a responsive Hyper Burst core. As of November 2024, the price of Skechers SKX Float is $140.

Joel Embiid was previously associated with Under Armor and mostly wore the UA Embiid One shoes. While his signature shoe remained a highlight, Embiid has also worn Under Armor’s HOVR Havoc, Spawn Anatomix Spawn, and the HOVR Havoc 2 shoes in the past. Besides Under Armour, Embiid also used to wear Adidas Light Em Up 2 and the Adidas Mad Bounce.