Professional NBA Star
Joel Embiid is a well-known professional basketball player who emigrated to the United States from Cameroon at the age of sixteen. His impact on the basketball world since his arrival has been profound; winning state championships in high school, turning around college basketball programs, and now reigniting a professional team to playoff runs, namely the Philadelphia 76ers. His story is a truly inspiring tale that lets followers believe in believing in their dreams (thefamouspeople.com).
Joel Embiid grew up in Yaounde, Cameroon. His father was a military officer, and he is the oldest of his two siblings. Embiid’s goal was to play professional volleyball in Europe; however, his parents wanted him to be a doctor in Cameroon. He ended up exploring the sport of basketball at age fifteen and attended a training camp hosted by Mbah Moute, another Cameroonian NBA player. Embiid caught the attention of Moute and was convinced to emigrate to America to pursue basketball (thefamouspeople.com).
Joel Embiid started high school basketball at Montverde Academy in high school before transferring to The Rock High School, which he led to a state championship. He then went on to play college basketball at Kansas University, but was hindered by injuries and was unable to play in the NCAA tournament at the end of the season. He entered the NBA draft after one year at college and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the third overall pick (SportyTell).
After being drafted in 2014, his first two seasons with the 76ers were riddled with injuries; however, Embiid’s effect in recent years have been profound. He has led his team to the playoffs in four straight seasons since 2016, the most recent run in the 2020-21 season. His team has yet to make it to the NBA Finals, but his early career could still take off to include a championship in the coming years (ESPN.com).
His achievements over the past four years have also been very impressive. He was named to All-Rookie first team in 2015. He became an All-Star in 2018 and 2019, and his performance in the 20/21 season earned him NBA MVP votes for the first time (ESPN.com). If his recent performances continue, his team could soon be winning an NBA championship that he could add to his list of achievements.
Embiid’s story is a model of the dream many young athletes wish to pursue. He worked hard for his dreams and was able to achieve them through talent and perseverance. The importance of his story is extremely impactful on younger generations hoping to one day follow in Embiid’s footsteps to stardom.
I chose Joel Embiid because his journey is an inspiration not only to me, but to many others around the world. His talent when playing in the spotlight is unmatched, and his unusual story to the top of the game of basketball is a motivating narrative. I hope that many other athletes and stars are able to follow Joel Embiid’s path and become icons themselves.
Featured Image courtesy of Liberty Ballers.
Works Cited
Hudrick, Paul. “Joel Embiid (rest) out vs. Blazers Monday.” SBNATION, 1 November 2021, https://www.libertyballers.com/2021/11/1/22757538/joel-embiid-rest-out-vs-blazers-monday.
“Joel Embiid Biography Facts, Childhood And Personal Life.” SportyTell, 11 June 2019, https://sportytell.com/basketball/joel-embiid-biography-facts-childhood-personal-life/.
“Joel Embiid Biography.” ESPN, n.d., https://www.espn.com/nba/player/bio/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid.
“Joel Embiid Biography.” TheFamousPeople, n.d., https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/joel-embiid-44972.php.
Levy, Ian. “What Do Joel Embiid’s College Numbers Tell Us About His NBA Future?” Bleacher Report, 25 June 2014, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2105049-what-do-joel-embiids-college-numbers-tell-us-about-his-nba-future.
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