Joel Embiid

Embiid has been in a relationship with Brazilian model Anne de Paula since 2018. The couple welcomed a son, Arthur Elijah De Paula Embiid, in September 2020 and married in July 2023. Embiid named his son after his younger brother, Arthur, who died in a car accident in Cameroon in October 2014.

Multilingual from his upbringing in Yaounde, Embiid is fluent in English, French, and Basaa. He is a practicing Catholic, a teetotaler, and an avid follower of soccer, frequently expressing his support for the Spanish club Real Madrid CF.

In addition to his family life, Embiid has engaged in philanthropic initiatives in his team's home city. In March 2021, he donated his $100,000 winnings from the NBA All-Star Game to Philadelphia organizations fighting homelessness, earning the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his contributions.

Joel Hans Embiid was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, to Thomas Embiid, a military officer and former handball player, and his wife, Christine. Growing up, Embiid played soccer and volleyball, intending to pursue professional volleyball in Europe before taking up basketball at age 15. He developed an interest in the sport by watching video tapes of NBA legends, particularly Nigerian center Hakeem Olajuwon.

His athletic potential was identified at a local basketball camp by fellow Yaounde native and NBA forward Luc Mbah a Moute. With Mbah a Moute serving as a mentor, Embiid moved to the United States at age 16 to pursue basketball full time. He spent his first year at Montverde Academy in Florida before transferring to The Rock School in Gainesville, where he led the team to a state championship as a senior while developing into a five-star recruit.

Embiid committed to the University of Kansas, playing the 2013-14 collegiate season alongside teammate Andrew Wiggins. In 28 appearances for the Jayhawks, he averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and a selection to the All-Big 12 second team.

His freshman season ended early when he suffered a stress fracture in his back in March 2014, causing him to miss both the Big 12 tournament and the NCAA tournament. Despite the injury, Embiid declared for the 2014 NBA draft. Shortly before the draft, he underwent surgery for a fractured navicular bone in his right foot, yet the Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the third overall pick, making him the highest-drafted player from Cameroon in NBA history.

Foot injuries and subsequent surgeries sidelined Embiid for the entirety of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. During this extensive rehabilitation period, he adopted the nickname "The Process," embracing the phrase associated with Philadelphia's long-term rebuilding strategy under general manager Sam Hinkie.

Embiid made his NBA debut on October 26, 2016, scoring 20 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although a torn meniscus cut his rookie campaign short after 31 games, he earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. In the 2017-18 season, he earned his first NBA All-Star selection as a starter and helped lead the 76ers to their first 50-win season and playoff appearance in several years.

During the 2021-22 season, Embiid won his first NBA scoring title with an average of 30.6 points per game. He became the first center to lead the league in scoring since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000, as well as the first international player to achieve the feat.

Embiid followed up in 2022-23 by capturing a second consecutive scoring crown with a career-best 33.1 points per game. His performance earned him the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to win the honor, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Allen Iverson. On January 22, 2024, he set a franchise single-game record by scoring 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs.

Holding citizenship in Cameroon, France, and the United States, Embiid was eligible to represent all three countries in international competition. After acquiring French nationality in July 2022 and American naturalization in September 2022, he committed to playing for the United States men's national basketball team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Embiid stated that his choice was influenced by a desire to honor his American-born son. Facing vocal reactions from French spectators throughout the tournament, Embiid started at center for Team USA, averaging 11.2 points and 3.8 rebounds over five games to capture the Olympic gold medal.

In 2023, Embiid partnered with LeBron James's SpringHill Company to found Miniature Geant, a production studio focused on creating content highlighting African stories and sports. The company's initial slate announced development on a documentary about soccer player Memphis Depay and a scripted feature film titled Backline.

In the athletic apparel market, Embiid spent five years endorsed by Under Armour before signing a multi-year footwear and apparel contract with Skechers in 2024.