Joel Embiid(1)
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 has nicknamed himself "the Process" as an embrace of the era in 76ers history with the same name he played in early in his career.[3][4][5][6] 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.
Early life
Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to military officer Thomas Embiid[7] and his wife, Christine.[8] He played volleyball and soccer[9] in childhood and originally planned to play professional volleyball in Europe[10] but started playing basketball at age 15, modeling his game after NBA Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.[7][10] Embiid was discovered at a basketball camp by Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow native of Yaoundé and an NBA player.[10][11] With Mbah a Moute as his mentor, Embiid moved to the United States at age 16 to devote himself to becoming a professional basketball player.[12]
Embiid enrolled at Montverde Academy, Mbah a Moute's alma mater, but transferred after his first year due to a lack of playing time.[10][13] He then attended The Rock School, a Christian academy, in Gainesville, Florida.[13] 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 attended the University of Kansas for one year alongside notable teammate Andrew Wiggins. On 13 February 2014, he was named one of the 30 finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year.[16] In 2013–14, he played 28 games, averaging 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game.[17] He had over 15 points in seven games and over 5 blocks in six games. He subsequently earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named second-team All-Big 12.
Embiid suffered a stress fracture in his back in March 2014.[18] He missed that year's Big 12 tournament and NCAA tournament. Kansas lost in the second round (round of 32) of the NCAA tournament.
Professional career
2014 NBA draft
On 9 April 2014, Embiid declared for the 2014 NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility.[19] On 20 June 2014, he underwent surgery on a broken navicular bone in his right foot, and was subsequently ruled out for four to six months.[20] Six days later, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.[21] That selection made him the third Cameroonian-born NBA player after Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje and Luc Mbah a Moute, as well as the highest selected player from Cameroon.
Philadelphia 76ers (2014–present)
Injury-plagued seasons (2014–2016)
On 26 August 2014, Embiid signed his rookie scale contract with the 76ers.[22][23] He was later ruled unlikely to play at all in the 2014–15 season due to the broken navicular bone in his foot.[24] After missing the entire 2014–15 season, it was announced on 13 June 2015 that Embiid had suffered a setback in his recovery after a CT scan revealed less healing than anticipated.[25] It was later determined that Embiid's chances of playing in the 2015–16 season were slim following a second round of surgery on his right foot on 18 August 2015.[26][27] He missed the entire 2015–16 season.
2016–17 season: All-Rookie honors
On 4 October 2016, Embiid started at center in the 76ers' first preseason game against the Boston Celtics.[28] In his first action, he recorded six points, four rebounds, and two blocks in 13 minutes en route to a 92–89 victory.[29] On 26 October 2016, Embiid made his long-awaited NBA regular-season debut in the 76ers' season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 25 minutes as the starting center, he recorded 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a 103–97 loss.[30] On 1 November, he recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 103–101 loss to the Orlando Magic.[31] On 11 November, his 25-point effort helped the 76ers claim their first win of the season, defeating the Indiana Pacers 109–105.[32] On 19 November, he scored a then-career high 26 points in 20 minutes in a 120–105 win over the Phoenix Suns.[33] On 1 December, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October and November.[34] On 18 December, he set a new career high with 33 points in a 108–107 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[35] On 3 January 2017, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December.[36]
On 11 January 2017, Embiid grabbed a then-career high 14 rebounds in a 98–97 win over the New York Knicks.[37][38] On 23 January, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, 16 January through Sunday, 22 January.[39] Two days later, he was named in the World Team for the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge.[40] On 2 February 2017, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in January,[41] while also being named a Taco Bell Skills Challenge participant.[42] On 11 February 2017, it was revealed that Embiid had a torn meniscus in his left knee, but that surgery would not be required.[43] As a result of the injury, Embiid was ruled out of the All-Star Weekend festivities.[44] After initially ruling him out indefinitely on 27 February with swelling in his left knee,[45] 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.[46] On 24 March 2017, he underwent successful minor arthroscopic surgery to address the meniscus tear in his left knee.[47] At the season's end, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team
