Joel Embiid Family – Parents, Sister, Brother And Wife

Sportblis presents amazing facts about Joel Embiid Father (Thomas Embiid), Mother (Christine Embiid), Sister (Muriel Embiid), late brother (Arthur Embiid), Wife (Anne de Paula), and much more.

Joel Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball Center who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers of NBA. He was born on the 16th of March 1994 to his parents in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The talented athlete began his basketball journey in the town of his birth. He was good at playing different games and even displayed exceptional skills in volleyball and soccer.

From his childhood days, Embiid aspired to triumph in professional volleyball. He trained consistently to fulfil his aspirations but subsequently had a change of heart when he turned 15.

Childhood Experience:

While growing up in Cameroon, Embiid enjoyed a comfortable upbringing. As the oldest of three children, he excelled academically and displayed exceptional athleticism.

His parents, Thomas and Christine, were diligent in providing a nurturing environment that prioritized education over sports. You probably didn’t know that Embiid hails from a middle-class family background.

Although not fully determined to go all out in basketball, the young lad usually played the game with his friends. They competed on a basketball court that presented a challenging terrain for practice.

Obviously, Embiid only played basketball for fun and took volleyball more seriously. When he eventually decided to pursue a career in basketball, he saw exponential growth in his prowess.

The NBA star honed his talent under the guidance of Coach Guy Moudio from the Kossengwe Basketball Club. As destiny would have it, he luckily caught the attention of Luc Mbah a Moute during a basketball camp.

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Apparently, Luc Mbah a Moute, was an NBA player and fellow native of Yaoundé. He became Embiid’s mentor and fast-tracked his career advancement in basketball.

Joel Embiid Career Life:

Meeting Luc Mbah a Moute prompted Embiid to make a life-changing decision. At the age of 16, Embiid moved to the United States under the guidance of his mentor.

Leaving his family behind to pursue his dreams in the US was difficult for him. Reflecting on his journey, the NBA star spoke about the emotional toll it took on him.

In the US, he was first enrolled to study at Montverde Academy, the alma mater of Mbah a Moute. However, he faced limited playing time and subsequently transferred to a Christian academy – The Rock School – in Gainesville, Florida.

While in school, Embiid’s classmates held misconceptions about his background. They assumed he grew up in poverty and hunted lions in the jungle.

Funny as their speculations may sound, the NBA star embraced those stereotypes and turned them into motivation for his career. As a senior at The Rock School, Embiid quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the court.

He even led his team to a state championship victory. Recognizing his immense talent, the player earned a five-star recruit rating from Rivals.com. In November 2012, he committed to play college basketball at the University of Kansas.

College and Professional Career Life:

Embiid played college basketball for one year at the University of Kansas before declaring for the draft. He was selected as the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 NBA draft.

Due to some foot and knee injuries, Embiid’s debut was delayed. The first two years of his career were consistently plagued by injuries.

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Hence, he fully began to showcase his skills in the 2016-17 season. Despite playing only 31 games, Embiid’s exceptional performance earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Standing tall at 7 feet (2.1 meters), Embiid quickly established himself as an NBA star. Thanks to his exceptional talent, he has amassed many accolades in the NBA.

In 2023, Embiid achieved the pinnacle of individual success by being named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). However, his path to success was not without obstacles.

Embiid embraced the nickname “the Process,” which originated from the phrase “trust the process,” commonly heard from Philadelphia 76ers fans during the Sam Hinkie era.

Additionally, he became the first center since Moses Malone in 1982 to average over 30 points per game. Moreso, his scoring titles marked a historic milestone as the first foreign player to lead the NBA in scoring.

Joel Embiid Family & Ethnicity:

The NBA star’s family has played a pivotal role in shaping his identity. While he maintains a relatively private stance regarding his family, he has emphasized the utmost importance he places on them.

In a press conference, Embiid expressed his deep-rooted commitment to his family, stating, “I’m all about family.” Among his family members, his son holds a particularly significant place in his heart.

Embiid credits his parents for being unwavering pillars of support since the beginning of his journey. Reflecting on his childhood, he humorously mentioned being slightly resentful toward his father for restricting his athletic activities when he was under 15.

However, he also acknowledged that his father’s decision was ultimately right because everything happens for a reason. Meanwhile, his mom may not have shared a personal interest in sports but prioritized his happiness and well-being above all else.

Despite being born in Cameroon, Joel Embiid holds both American and French citizenship. This dual citizenship highlights his diverse background and adds another layer to his personal and cultural identity.

Joel Embiid Father – Thomas Embiid:

Embiid’s dad, Thomas Embiid, had a notable athletic background himself. Apparently, Thomas played handball professionally in his younger years before transitioning into military personnel.

While serving as a colonel in the Cameroon military, Embiid’s father placed a strong emphasis on his children’s academics. He initially desired for his first son to focus on playing volleyball due to its low-contact nature.

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This prevented Embiid from going all out in sports like basketball and soccer at a tender age. Also, Thomas Embiid only allowed his son ample time to play volleyball.

In his opinion, he wanted Embiid to focus on school. However, a turning point came when Joe Touomou, a Cameroonian basketball personality, presented an intriguing proposition to Thomas.

Touomou told Embiid’s father that his son might not need to attend school if he played basketball. He also explained that Embiid might get the chance to buy his own school if he makes it big through sports.

Joel Embiid’s uncle also tried his best alongside Touomou in convincing his dad to allow him play basketball. Thankfully, he was given the go-ahead and the rest, as they say, is history.

How Joel Embiid’s Dad Supported His Athletic Journey:

Throughout his high school and college years, Embiid’s father visited him on a few occasions. He got to witness his son’s immense dedication on the court.

From his military background, Colonel Embiid advised his boy on the importance of perseverance and hard work. He explained to Embiid the concept of “no pain, no gain” and encouraged him to push himself above ordinary limits.

While explaining his father’s personality, Embiid stated that Thomas Embiid is a calm and quiet man. He often exhibited a serious and tough demeanor, which might be due to his military discipline.

However, since becoming a grandfather, Thomas Embiid has taken on a completely different persona, now radiating warmth and affection. Embiid explained that he had never seen his dad smile his whole life.

But he finally saw Thomas smiling when he held onto his grandson, Arthur. The relationship between Joel Embiid and his father has undoubtedly evolved over the years.

We’ve seen them transition from a parent emphasizing education and discipline to a cherished bond between a father, his son and his grandchild.

Joel Embiid Mother – Christine Embiid:

The athlete’s dad isn’t the only one who has played a crucial role in his basketball expedition. His mom, Christine Embiid, has also supported him all the way to his meteoric rise to stardom on the court.

Christine Embiid is a native of Cameroon. She wanted to see her first son (Joel Embiid) venture into the medical trade as a doctor. However, her aspiration for the basketball center was entirely different from what he wanted.

As a caring mother, Christine gave in to Embiid’s desire to play basketball and prayed for his success. As I write this biography, she is responsible for overseeing the Arthur Embiid and Angels Foundation.

The foundation was created and dedicated to the memory of her younger son, Arthur, who tragically died in a car accident. Christine was a wonderful mom who raised her three children with good morals.

Joel Embiid Sister – Muriel Embiid:

Joel Embiid Brother – Arthur Embiid:

As mentioned earlier, Embiid had a younger brother born in 2001. Sadly, his brother didn’t live long enough to establish himself in the career of his dreams.

Tragedy struck the Embiid family in 2014 when Joel Embiid’s younger brother, Arthur, passed away on October 16 at the tender age of 13. Arthur was struck by a truck while walking home from school, leading to his untimely death.

He was a vibrant and magnetic young boy who effortlessly attracted others. Arthur was Embiid’s closest friend who never allowed boredom to afflict their childhood.

Before his death, he usually spent his afternoon playing FIFA with his brother. It was a memory that remained vivid in Joel Embiid’s mind to date.

Devastated by the loss of his brother, Embiid contemplated quitting basketball and returning to Cameroon to be with his family. He felt a profound sense of purposelessness and struggled to find motivation.

However, rather than succumbing to despair, he persevered. Embiid poured his efforts into basketball, working tirelessly for two years to overcome challenges and improve his skills.

He believed that achieving this would make his brother immensely proud. In 2022, Joel Embiid launched the “In Memory of Arthur” (IMOA) initiative to invest in various non-profit organizations in Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid Girlfriend/Wife – Anne de Paula:

Basketball is not the only thing that the athlete is good at. Apparently, he’s also an excellent loverboy who has maintained a beautiful relationship with his girlfriend, Anne de Paula.

Joel Embiid’s partner is a Brazilian model who has a great love for soccer. The couple crossed paths at a dinner hosted by a mutual friend in New York City in 2018.

Their connection initially blossomed into a beautiful friendship as they bonded over their shared love for soccer. Furthermore, their ability to converse in French made their bond stronger.

Anne de Paula and Embiid also shared a similar experience of leaving their home countries to pursue dreams in the US. This discovery further solidified their connection.

In no distant time, the lovebirds transitioned to boyfriend and girlfriend, marking a start to their love story. In a press conference held in 2023, Joel Embiid referred to Anne de Paula as his “fiancée.”

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However, neither of them has publicly announced their engagement. As destiny would have it, Embiid and Anne tied the knot as husband and wife on the 22nd of July, 2023.

The couple continues to share their journey together, embracing the joys of parenthood and supporting each other in their respective endeavors.

Who is Anne de Paula, Joel Embiid’s Wife?

Anne de Paula was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She grew up near the favelas and spent much of her time playing soccer with the boys in her neighborhood.

As a goalkeeper, she honed her skills and developed a deep passion for the sport. Although Anne’s parents worked in the medical field, she initially envisioned herself following a similar path.

This was because Embiid’s girlfriend loved infants and desired to assist women in delivering babies. Anne’s life took an unexpected turn when she was approached for a photoshoot.

She eventually gave modeling a try and discovered a newfound love for it. Through modeling, she embraced a more feminine side of herself and became a role model to many young girls in her home country, Brazil.

Joel Embiid Children:

Embiid’s relationship with his girlfriend-turned-wife was blessed with a child. The couple welcomed their firstborn son on the 17th of September 2020.

They named him Arthur Elijah De Paula Embiid in honor of Joel’s late brother. This heartfelt gesture serves as a testament to Embiid’s immense love for his brother’s memory.

Arthur Embiid’s presence brings joy to his parents’ lives as they navigate the joy and challenges of parenthood. As he continues to grow, he will undoubtedly be surrounded by the love and support of his family.

Quick Facts About Joel Embiid: