It might be hard to imagine, but Joel Embiid didn't always know he wanted to play basketball. Born in a part of Africa called Cameroon, Embiid wanted to be the president of Cameroon when he grew up! Later, he decided his math skills would be best used as an astronaut. Volleyball showed Embiid he could be good at sports. Even once he found basketball, Embiid's journey didn't get any clearer or easier. His path to greatness included his parents concerns, physical injuries, and the death of a loved one. Despite all this, the star continued to play, to train, and to wow the world.