Philadelphia 76ers: The Croat And The Goat

The Goat

Thousands of miles away, in the country of Cameroon, another future Philadelphia 76er was taking a far different track. Joel Embiid did not enjoy a strong family background in the sport of basketball. In fact, even his town was a soccer village of Yaounde. Meanwhile, his father Thomas, a former handball player, had raised his two kids on a comfortable military salary. Young Joel took to soccer, enjoying the rhythms of the game. “I should have been a goalkeeper,” Embiid said, upon arriving at Kansas. “But I was a midfielder.”

Eventually, it was a video tape of Nigerian center Hakeem Olajuwon that truly hooked Joel Embiid into basketball. It transformed the game of basketball into Embiid’s calling. Joel’s coach, Guy Moudio, had received it from a friend. He had never instructed players to watch tape before, but Embiid was growing desperate for any piece of information he could find on his new sport.

“Here Jo Jo, you might like this.” Moudio told his player while handing it to him.

Unfortunately, the tape didn’t come with a synapse, training guide, or even a “how to” book.   From that point on, Joel Embiid has studied and replicated video, coach’s instructions, and learned from his mistakes quickly.  He too was selected in the 2014 NBA draft, but at the third spot. Thought to be the best pure talent in that draft, his back and foot injuries waived off NBA teams, save the Philadelphia 76ers.  And so, the perilous two year climb back from a fractured foot began, both domestically and internationally.

Embiid fought the disclaimers, disbelievers, and disappointment. He’s a fighter, converting negative comments into positive motivation.

So far, it’s working.