Joel Embiid Set to become the First Centre with a Signature Shoe in NBA

Philadelphia 76ers Centre Joel Embiid is set to get a signature shoe of his own. He had signed a sneaker contract with Under Armour in 2018. The 25-year old announced on Tuesday that the UA Embiid 1 will be released in the Fall of 2020.

According to an Under Armour press release, Embiid played an important role in designing the shoe. The shoes, like all other signature shoes, are known to have been designed after studying the player’s mobility in the court.

The UA Embiid 1 will also help fans know more about Embiid, with each colorway representing a critical moment of his career. Under Armour will first release The Embiid 1 Origin, followed by several colorways throughout the 2020-21 season.

“Early on in the design process, Joel shared that he thought his life was like a movie, and like movies, all basketball careers have origin stories. Since Joel’s story began in Cameroon, that was the creative focus of our first colorway, Origin,” a senior footwear designer at Under Armour was quoted as saying in the press release.

Joel Embiid grateful for the signature shoes

When the shoes are eventually released, Embiid will become the 17th NBA player to have a signature shoe of his own and the first centre. Embiid has previously sported  Under Armour UA Hovr Havoc 2. He will now be joining the likes of Stephen Curry to have an Under Armour signature shoe.

“As a kid, I never could have dreamed of being in this situation with my own signature shoe,” Embiid said in the release. “The process has been incredible with the work that’s been put in. Not a lot of guys in my profession get this opportunity and I’m truly grateful for it. I can’t wait to debut it on the court.”

A two-time NBA All-Star, Joel Embiid is currently out of action with a finger injury. Over 189 games in NBA, Embiid has averaged 24.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.