Joel Embiid made his mark at KU before becoming an NBA superstar

Joel Embiid has become all the rage in the NBA, a superstar on the court and a superstar on social media. He can do it all as a 7-foot center--shoot from three-point range, dazzle you inside with an array of  post moves, dribble to the hoop from the perimeter, pass, block shots and rebound with the best.

Some basketball observers believes this phenom has a chance to be one of the best ever. Just listen to TV analyst Mark Jackson during the May 2 game against Philly and Toronto, when Embiid had a monster game with 30 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in just 28 minutes, leading the Sixers to a 116-95 victory in Game 3 of the playoffs.

“It would be a crime if he left the game and wasn’t in the discussion as one of the best big men of all time,” Jackson said. 

While fellow analyst Jeff Van Gundy told Jackson to “pump your brakes” with that comment, there is no denying Embiid’s incredible talent and potential to become one of the best players ever.

He finished this season as the only player in NBA history to score more than 27 points, grab more than 13 boards, dish out three-plus assists, block more than a shot a game and make at least a three-pointer per contest.

Embiid, who made his second-straight All-Star game, averaged career highs 27.5 points and 13.6 rebounds, while adding 1.9 blocks in 33.7 minutes per game. In addition, he shot an impressive 80.4 percent from the free throw line.

He's posted career averages of 24.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks in 30.7 minutes per game, while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 78.8 percent at the free throw line. Embiid has started all of his 158 games.

The only question surrounding the former KU star is his durability. Forced to miss his first two seasons in the NBA with foot injuries after being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Embiid played in just 64 games this season (career best), while playing in 63 games in 2017-18 and just 31 games his rookie year in 2016-17.

Barring injury, I believe he will be a future Hall of Famer and one of the best centers of all time. The big man just has mad skills you can’t teach. And he’s a joy to watch play with his myriad of talents and flamboyant style.

Embiid showed some signs of greatness during his one year at Kansas in 2013-14, at first coming off the bench for Tarik Black before earning a starting spot. You could see he was still raw, but had great feet, post moves and the “Dream Shake” patented by his idol Hakeem Olajuwon. Embiid, who missed the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament with back problems, averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

But he’s completely transformed and elevated his game now in the NBA and should be a perennial All-Star.

Here is a story I wrote on Embiid for Kansas City Sports & Fitness during his freshman season at KU. This article was published in the February 2014 issue.

By David Garfield

Joel Embiid seemed destined for greatness despite playing organized basketball for just two years and before even competing in his first college hoops game.

Hall of Famer and Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said last July that the 7-foot KU freshman center could be the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft behind fellow freshman teammate Andrew Wiggins. And listen to what KU coach Bill Self had to say about his rising star at media day in late September.

“When you guys watch Joel play, you will say he’s got unbelievable feet,” Self said. “He’s like a 6-footer with the things he can do with his feet. He reminds me a little bit of (Hakeem, NBA Hall of Famer) Olajuwon early in his career. I’m not saying he’s Olajuwon, I’m not saying that at all, but some similarities when he was real raw when he was young. He was light on his feet, and I think Joel is the same way. 

“He’s got a long way to go from a strength standpoint and a toughness standpoint to be able to play a ton of minutes his rookie season. (But) he can do some things and move in a way that very few big guys we’ve had have been able to move.”

Embiid was unfazed about all the hype. Asked about Pitino’s statement that September day, the Cameroon native took it in stride.

“(That’s) good, but I’m not really thinking about the NBA,” Embiid said. “We just want to get better and try to win something this year.”

All Embiid’s done this season is made remarkable strides and become one of the biggest stories in college basketball and the “IT” topic among NBA general managers. At press time in late January, Embiid was averaging 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks (tied for No. 1 in Big 12) in just 22.5 minutes per game, while shooting a scorching 66.7 percent from the field. At that shooting pace, he will finish the year with the top field goal percentage on the KU single-season list.

Embiid, who with 53 blocks will also shatter the school’s freshman record for most rejections in a season (62 by Eric Chenowith), set the Kansas freshman record, tied the Big 12 freshman record for all contests and broke the mark for a conference game with eight blocks against Oklahoma State on Jan. 18. Embiid, who added 13 points and 11 rebounds versus OSU, became the first freshman in Big 12 history to have a double-double and eight blocked shots in a game.

 

He was named CBSSports.com National Player of the Week for his play against the Cowboys and Iowa State with averaging a double-double (14.5 ppg, 10 rpg) and posting 13 blocks.

His stats, though, don’t tell the whole story about Embiid’s game. With a dazzling array of fluid and graceful post moves, including Olajuown’s patented “Dream Shake,” combined with a tremendous basketball IQ, his 7-5 wingspan, and imposing presence at the rim, Embiid has now been mentioned as the likely No. 1 pick in the June draft, if he decides to turn pro.

“Guys like that don’t come around very often” TV analyst and former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy said.

“He’s the real thing,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas added.

“I think Embiid’s the best player in the country,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg simply gushed.

Some observers may have been astounded at how much growth Embiid shows each game, but Self isn’t one of them. Self actually told Embiid when he first arrived on campus that he would eventually be the No. 1 draft pick.

“It's surprising that he can be as good as he is this soon if you don't know him. But if you watch him every day, nothing surprises you. The kid can do anything. He's smart and he's a sponge,” Self said.

       

 ”... When you think about (him being) gifted with hands and feet and intellect and things like that, I don't think anything really surprises you,” Self added. “But it does amaze you watching him make some plays. You can see a guy make a play, and you know he's capable of making it, but then you say 'Did he just do that?' He's one of those guys that once a day he'll do something like that. I think he dunked one yesterday and never jumped. I mean, that was amazing to me. He and Andrew can make some plays that you just can't coach, unorthodox things.” 

Embiid was asked if he expected to be this good so soon.

"I didn't expect anything, but I knew coming in to Kansas that I needed to work hard and listen to what coach Self says every day,” he said. “I knew all I had to do is work hard and keep improving."

He’s improved with a tireless work ethic and by watching tape of KU’s all-time leading shot blocker Jeff Withey, his idol Olajuwon, and San Antonio Spurs star Tim Duncan. He studies their moves and tries to incorporate them into his game.

While he hears the hosannas and rave reviews, Embiid knows he’s still a work in process and must get stronger. He’s committed to playing consistently each night.

“I always have the same mindset before every game,” Embiid said. “Just do my job, rebound the ball, block shots, get position in the lane and try to score.”

Embiid’s ceiling is so high that Self said he is a future NBA All-Star, while some wonder if he could become the next Olajuwon. Regardless, Embiid’s teammates absolutely love his game.

“I feel he gets better every day, every practice, and he’s just taking steps forward every chance he gets,” freshman guard Wayne Selden said.

“He affects the game in so many different ways, it's unbelievable,” Wiggins added.

And then there are the opposing coaches like Hoiberg who can’t stop talking about him. Iona coach Tom Cluess was amazed after Embiid scored 16 points (7-7 FG) and grabbed 13 rebounds against the Gaels on Nov. 19 with his dad in Allen Fieldhouse watching Joel play basketball for the first time.

"He was a monster in there,” Cluess said. “He was really, really impressive.”

Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk also raved over Embiid after he posted 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against the Rockets on Dec. 30.

“One word: special,” Kowalczyk said. “I just like his humility. I like his passion for the game. I watch him warm up, you can tell he’s coachable. I think he’s special. To be honest, he’s bigger, longer and better than I anticipated coming in.”

Embiid, who played soccer and volleyball growing up, seemed destined for a pro volleyball career until he was discovered at age 16 by fellow Cameroon native and current Minnesota Timberwolves player Luc Richard Mbah a Moute at his camp in July 2011. He then left his country and attended Montverde (Fla.) Academy, Mbah a Moute’s former school, for his junior year of high school. 

Embiid, whose stock soared the following summer, transferred to The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla., for his senior year with hopes of more playing time. He averaged 13.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game and skyrocketed to the number one center in his class by ESPNU and the the No. 6 player overall. Self got his dream big man as Embiid chose the Jayhawks over Florida, Texas, Marquette and Virginia.

While he continues to progress and NBA general managers salivate over drafting Embiid — maybe even No. 1 — and making him a cornerstone of their franchise, this personable and humble freshman phenom just wants to win a national championship and savor each day as a Jayhawk.

“Since I’ve been at Kansas, I have fun, I love everybody, what everybody is doing for me,” Embiid said. “I love it.”