Joel Hans Embiid ( ; born 16 March 1994) is a Cameroonian and American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was drafted third overall by the 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft. The 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. Embiid also won a gold medal on the 2024 U.S. Olympic team.
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 nicknamed himself " the Process" to embrace the era in 76ers history in which he began his career. 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 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.
Embiid was a five-star recruit according to Rivals.com and committed to Kansas in November 2012.
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 11 January 2017, Embiid grabbed a then-career high 14 rebounds in a 98–97 win over the New York Knicks. On 23 January, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, 16 January through Sunday, 22 January. Two days later, he was named in the World Team for the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge. On 2 February 2017, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in January, while also being named a Taco Bell Skills Challenge participant. On 11 February 2017, it was revealed that Embiid had a torn meniscus in his left knee, but that surgery would not be required. As a result of the injury, Embiid was ruled out of the All-Star Weekend festivities. After initially ruling him out indefinitely on 27 February with swelling in his left knee, the 76ers issued a statement two days later announcing that Embiid would miss the rest of the 2016–17 season, an MRI on his left knee having revealed that the area affected by the bone bruise had improved significantly while the previously identified meniscus tear appeared more pronounced. On 24 March 2017, he underwent successful minor arthroscopic surgery to address the meniscus tear in his left knee. At the season's end, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
On 18 January, he was named a starter for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, becoming the first Philadelphia player selected as an All-Star starter since Allen Iverson in the 2009–10 season, and the first Sixers All-Star since Jrue Holiday in 2013. Later that day, he scored 26 points and matched a then-career best with 16 rebounds in an 89–80 win over the Boston Celtics. He was subsequently named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played between Monday, 15 January and Sunday, 21 January. On 10 February, he had 29 points and tied a then-career high with 16 rebounds in a 112–98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Two days later, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played between Monday, 5 February and Sunday, 11 February. On 15 March, he scored 29 points in a 118–110 win over the New York Knicks, becoming the first Sixers player to notch 40 20-point performances in a season since Andre Iguodala in 2007–08. A day later, on his 24th birthday, Embiid had 24 points and a then-career high 19 rebounds in a 120–116 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On 28 March against the Knicks, Embiid suffered an orbital fracture of his left eye. He underwent surgery three days later, with a two-week return date the likely outcome.
After missing the first two games of the 76ers' first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat with the left eye injury, Embiid made his playoff debut in Game 3 on 19 April. He helped the 76ers take a 2–1 lead in the series with a 128–108 win behind his 23 points. Embiid helped the 76ers move on to the second round of the playoffs with a 4–1 defeat of the Heat, as he recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 104–91 win in Game 5. In Game 1 of the 76ers' second-round series against the Celtics, Embiid recorded 31 points and 13 rebounds in a 117–101 loss. The 76ers went on to lose to the Celtics in five games, with Embiid recording 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 114–112 loss in Game 5. Embiid said in his postgame press conference after Game 5 that he felt there should have been a foul called on his potential game-tying layup attempt with under 20 seconds left. The NBA later confirmed that a foul should have been called on the play.
On 19 January 2022, Embiid matched his then-career high of 50 points on 17-for-23 shooting from the field, along with 12 rebounds and three blocks, in a 123–110 win over the Orlando Magic. On 12 February, Embiid logged his fourth career triple-double with 40 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in a 103–93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He became the first Sixers player with a 40-point triple-double since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. On 17 February, Embiid had 42 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in a 123–120 win over the reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks. On 9 April, Embiid had 41 points, a season-high 20 rebounds, four assists and two steals on 14-of-17 shooting from the field in a 133–120 win over the Indiana Pacers. Since the introduction of shot clock in 1954–55, Embiid became the fifth player in NBA history to score at least 40 points and grab 20 rebounds while shooting 80 percent or better from the field, joining former NBA All-Star John Drew and Hall of Famers Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Pettit. At the end of the regular season, Embiid was named the NBA scoring champion, averaging 30.6 points per game, becoming the first center to do so since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000, and also the first center to average over 30 points per game since Moses Malone in 1982. Embiid also became the first foreign player to win an NBA scoring title and the first Sixer to lead the league in scoring since Allen Iverson won the title for the fourth and final time in 2005.
On 18 April, during Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs, Embiid recorded a double-double of 31 points and 11 rebounds in a 112–97 win over the Toronto Raptors. On 20 April, during Game 3 of the first round, Embiid scored a game-winning three-pointer with under 1 second left in overtime against the Raptors. He finished the game with 33 points and 13 rebounds. During that game, Embiid injured his thumb and was relegated to a soft cast for the second half of the game and during the following Friday practice. After the game it was reported that he was experiencing "pain and discomfort". Although Embiid played through the pain in Game 4 and scored 21 points and had eight rebounds, the 76ers fell to the Toronto Raptors in a 110–102 loss. It was later reported that Embiid would require surgery on the thumb, but that he would postpone the surgery until the end of the 76ers' season. On 28 April, Embiid had 33 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks to lead the 76ers to a 132–97 win in Game 6 to end their first round series. The next day, the Sixers announced that Embiid had suffered a mild concussion and a right orbital fracture and would be out indefinitely. Because of the injury, Embiid missed the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals where Philadelphia would go on to lose to Miami in six games. On 30 May, Embiid underwent right thumb surgery and a procedure on his left index finger.
On 28 January, Embiid recorded 47 points, a season-high 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a 126–119 win over the Denver Nuggets. He became the second player in 76ers franchise history to produce at least four games of 45-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and five-plus assists, joining Wilt Chamberlain. Embiid also became just the third player in NBA history to record at least 47 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocked shots. He joined Hall of Famers Chris Webber (5 January 2001) and Bob McAdoo (18 March 1975) with such games. For his play in January, Embiid took home the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, the sixth of his career and second in a row. He scored a league-best 34.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks in 10 games during the month. On 15 February, Embiid scored his 10,000th career point in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also surpassed Allen Iverson as the fastest player to reach 10,000 career points in 76ers franchise history, doing so in just 373 games. On 26 February, Embiid put up 41 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a 110–107 loss to the Boston Celtics. He also surpassed Wilt Chamberlain for the most games with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 76ers franchise history. On 9 March, he put up 39 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, three blocks and a game-winning fadeaway jumpshot in a 120–119 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. On 18 March, Embiid put up 31 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a 141–121 win over the Indiana Pacers. He also put up his ninth consecutive 30-point game, surpassing Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive games with at least 30 points in 76ers franchise history. On 4 April, Embiid scored 52 points on 20-of-25 shooting from the field, along with 13 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in a 103–101 win over the Boston Celtics. He became just the second player in NBA history to produce a stat line of at least 50–10–5 while shooting 80% or better. Embiid also joined Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only three centers to have three 50-plus-point games in a season in NBA history. On 9 April, Embiid was named the NBA scoring champion, averaging 33.1 points per game, doing so for the second straight season. He also joined James Harden as the first pair of teammates to lead the NBA in scoring and assists in a season since George Gervin and Johnny Moore did so in the 1981–82 season. On 2 May, Embiid won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. He became the fifth 76er ever to capture league MVP honors, joining Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson and Moses Malone.
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Embiid put up 34 points and 13 rebounds in a 116–115 overtime win against the Boston Celtics. He also tied Wilt Chamberlain for the most 30-point and 10-rebound playoff games in 76ers franchise history. The 76ers eventually lost the series to the Celtics in seven games.
On 2 January 2024, Embiid put up a triple-double with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists through playing only the first three quarters in a 110–97 win over the Chicago Bulls. He became the first player in NBA history to put up at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a game without playing in the fourth quarter. On 15 January, Embiid posted 41 points and 10 rebounds in a 124–115 win over the Houston Rockets. He recorded his 16th straight game with 30 or more points and 10-plus rebounds, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The next day, Embiid logged 41 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists in a 126–121 win over the Denver Nuggets. He had his 18th straight 30-point game, tying Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor for the sixth-longest streak in NBA history. On 20 January, Embiid put up 33 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a 97–89 win over the Charlotte Hornets. He had his 20th straight 30-point game, joining James Harden and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to score at least 30 points in 20-plus consecutive games. On 22 January, Embiid scored 70 points along with 18 rebounds and five assists in a 133–123 win over the San Antonio Spurs, breaking the Sixers franchise record for most points in a game previously set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967. With the performance, Embiid also became the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game, and the third center to reach the mark, joining Chamberlain and David Robinson. He also became the first player in NBA history to score at least 70 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game. On 1 February, it was announced Embiid would miss multiple games with a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee after Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors fell on his knee diving for a ball in a game a few days earlier. On 2 April, Embiid returned from knee surgery and finished with 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals, leading the 76ers to a 109–105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On 25 April 2024, Embiid put up a playoff career-high 50 points along with eight rebounds and four assists in the Sixers' 125–114 victory in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs against the New York Knicks. In the press conference after the game, he stated that he had been diagnosed with Bell's Palsy and had been dealing with and blurred vision. In Game 5, Embiid recorded his first playoff triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks in the Sixers' 112–106 overtime win over the Knicks. Philadelphia would go on to lose to New York in six games despite Embiid's 39-point and 13-rebound outing in the 118–115 close-out loss in Game 6. He finished the playoffs averaging a career-high 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and a career-high 5.7 assists.
On November 2, Embiid shoved a reporter in the locker room following a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies after the columnist had allegedly written an article pertaining Embiid's son and his later brother. Three days later, Embiid received a three-game suspension for the altercation, which would not begin until he was able to return from injury, as he missed the start of the season due to a knee ailment. On November 21, it was reported that in an hour-long meeting involving players and coaches, Tyrese Maxey accused Embiid of regularly being late to team activities.
On February 4, 2025, Embiid returned after a left knee injury sidelined him the previous 15 games. He recorded his eighth career triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 118–116 win over the Dallas Mavericks. On February 28, the 76ers announced that Embiid would miss the remainder of the season due to ongoing issues with his left knee. In 19 total starts for Philadelphia during the 2024–25 NBA season, he averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. On April 11, Embiid underwent arthroscopy on his left knee.
In July 2022, Embiid was granted citizenship by France as "a foreigner ... whose naturalization is of exceptional interest". Later in September, he also became a U.S. citizen. He had spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron on the phone, as Macron had courted him to play for the France national team.
Embiid committed to play for the 2024 U.S. Olympic team in Paris, stating that he wanted to win a gold medal for his son, who was born in the U.S.
Embiid has not ruled out playing for Cameroon in the future. However, he would need permission from FIBA and the United States men's national basketball team in order to do so in 2028.
Embiid is known for his playful personality and social media presence, particularly for his trolling. He is Catholic and a teetotaler.
Embiid is an avid supporter of Real Madrid CF, frequently posting on Twitter during the team's matches.
In March 2021, Embiid donated $100,000, his 2021 NBA All-Star Game winnings, to fight homelessness in Philadelphia, for which he received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award in April 2021.
In 2024, Embiid officially announced he had made a sneaker deal with Skechers.
In 2024, Miniature Géant announced two projects: a documentary about Dutch-Ghanaian soccer star Memphis Depay and Backline, a narrative feature about African athletes breaking into professional American football. The movie will be written and directed by Editi Effiong, director of the hit Netflix film The Black Book. The company’s initial development slate also includes an adaptation of Sebastian Abbot’s nonfiction book “The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer’s Next Superstars”, about a group of 13-year-old African boys scouted out to join a prestigious soccer academy.
College career
Professional career
2014 NBA draft
Philadelphia 76ers (2014–present)
Injury-plagued seasons (2014–2016)
2016–17 season: All-Rookie honors
2017–18 season: First All-Star and All-NBA appearances
2018–19 season: Playoff disappointment
2019–20 season: First round exit
2020–21 season: MVP runner-up
2021–22 season: First scoring title
2022–23 season: First NBA MVP and second scoring title
2023–24 season: Career high in scoring and knee surgery
2024–25 season: Dealing with injuries
National team career
After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve been incredible since the day I came here. But most of all, I want to honor my son who was born in the US. I want my boy to know I played my first Olympics for him. Joel Embiid Team USA Committed
During the Olympics, Embiid was frequently booed by French fans over his decision to play for the United States. He helped Team USA win the gold medal, and in five games, he averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and a block per game while shooting 56.8% from the field.
Personal life
Business interests
Career statistics
NBA
Regular season
Playoffs
College
See also
Notes
External links
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