Joel Embiid has been a professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers since his selection as the third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. Originally from Yaoundé, Cameroon, Embiid first intended to pursue professional volleyball in Europe but began playing basketball during his teenage years. His talent was discovered at a basketball camp by Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow Cameroonian and an NBA player. At the age of sixteen, Embiid moved to the United States to devote his efforts to becoming a professional basketball player.

Embiid's high school senior year saw him leading his team to a 33-4 record and state championship, positioning him as a five-star recruit. He subsequently committed to the University of Kansas, where he played for the Jayhawks for one year prior to declaring eligibility for the NBA draft. Despite facing multiple foot and knee injuries throughout his career, Embiid's performance on the court has remained consistently strong.

In the NBA, he has been named an All-Star seven times, selected to the All-NBA Team five times, and to the All-Defensive Team three times. Notably, he claimed the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2023. Embiid's performance also won him two NBA scoring titles in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In 2024, Embiid was a member of the 2024 Paris Olympic team, winning a gold medal as part of the United States men's basketball squad. His accomplishments in his field led to his inclusion in Forbes' "30 Under 30" Sports list in 2023.

Embiid maintains strong ties back to his home country and has been naturalized as a citizen of the United States. Furthermore, his global citizenship extends to France, which granted him citizenship in July 2022. He is fluent in French and Basaa and has not ruled out playing for Cameroon in the future. In March 2021, Embiid donated $100,000, his 2021 NBA All-Star Game winnings, to tackle homelessness in Philadelphia, earning him the NBA Cares Community Assist Award in April 2021.

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