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The hopes of the entire Philadelphia 76ers franchise rest on the shoulders of their franchise face Joel Embiid. But circle back just a decade ago and the likelihood of that happening seemed non-existent.
That's according to Joel Embiid himself. The Sixers star was vocal on his journey to the league after he matched Philly legend Allen Iverson for a franchise record, reaching the 7,000-point milestone within 300 games. To the Cameroonian center, getting there didn't seem to be in the cards for him.
Via SI's Justin Grasso:
“When I came to the states, my goal really was to use this opportunity so I can get some sort of scholarship and some sort of degree so I can go back home and make something out of it,” Embiid explained. “I never knew. I mean, you start playing basketball at 16. To me, it was like I never really had a chance to make it.”
To go from a gangly, raw prospect to the refined All-Star carrying the Sixers is a testament both to Joel Embiid's talent and the work he put in to fulfill his potential.
“I was always thought there was no way I was making it,” the Sixers star continued. “The fact that people believed in me and I got to college, that's what I wanted, honestly. I kinda used that opportunity to get a degree and go work somewhere else and make some money for my family. I would have never imagined.”
Joel Embiid didn't just make it. He's instead become one of the most dominant players of his generation – a clear top-10 talent in the NBA and a yearly contender for the MVP award when healthy. While claiming an NBA championship is still clearly within his sights, getting to this point to him is already an unbelievable accomplishment. Everything else is just gravy.
