Joel Embiid?s WNBA ?Doppelganger? Shares Career Alternative Outside Basketball Akin to NBA MVP

Joel Embiid‘s basketball career has been a rollercoaster since the Philadelphia 76ers selected him as the third overall pick in 2014. He overcame early difficulties from a knee injury to make his debut in 2016. And even though he only played 31 games that season, he had tremendous promise. Embiid’s fame grew during the following six years as he received multiple distinctions. This includes six All-Star selections, five All-NBA Team picks and three All-Defensive team nods. However, Joel Embiid never thought of playing basketball till he turned 15.

Growing up in Cameron, Embiid primarily played volleyball and football as a child. Fast forward to 2023, and he is now an NBA MVP. He put up an excellent performance in 2023 averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid’s WNBA ‘doppelganger’ recently revealed her alternate professional path outside of basketball, which is similar to that of the NBA MVP.

The 2016 WNBA MVP shares her alternative career

Joel Embiid?s WNBA ?doppelganger,? Nneka Ogwumike was drafted as the #1 pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2012 WNBA draft. Ever since then, she has been a crucial piece for the team, bringing in her basketball prowess along with her leadership skills. Ogwumike has been an important player for the LA Sparks during the 2023 season too, starting 12 of the team’s 13 games. With averages of 19.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and a career-high 3.5 assists per game, her play has been nothing short of exceptional.

Notably, Nneka Ogwumike now holds the record for most steals in franchise history with 507. She has cemented her place in the LA Sparks’ annals with this accomplishment. Furthermore, she is also the recipient of the Western Conference Player Award.

Recently, the 2016 WNBA MVP appeared on an episode of the ‘Knuckleheads Podcast’. During her appearance, she revealed her alternate career path.

During the podcast, Ogwumike was asked if she was progressing the same way in volleyball the way she was in basketball. She replied,

“I was actually. And because of that I also was like trying to become a student of the game in volleyball. So, I really did not know anything about volleyball.”

Nneka Ogwumike initially believed volleyball to be a straightforward sport with three players in the back and three in the front. It was only later that she came to know volleyball formations and tactics, including ‘six-one’ and ‘five-two’.

She continued,

“I started learning that there’s strategy in volleyball too. And it was something that really helped me with my footwork as well. Volleyball held basketball and basketball held volleyball. And I really do believe that if I wasn’t playing basketball,?I would definitely be a volleyball player.”Read More: Amid Plans of ?Never? Returning to 76ers, $165 Million Rich James Harden Flexes $359 Socks in All-Black Attire

Meanwhile, Joel Embiid could have been a professional volleyball player himself!

Joel Embiid wanted to pursue professional volleyball

Joel Embiid grew up in an upper-middle-class household in Yaound?, Cameroon. He initially considered enrolling at the National Institute for Sports and Physical Education (INSEP) in France with the goal of becoming a professional volleyball player. Football (soccer) and volleyball were the main sports he played when he was younger. On the other hand, basketball had a very small impact on his life.

However, things changed after he saw Kobe Bryant dominate the 2010 NBA Finals, which piqued his interest in the sport. Despite entering the sport somewhat late, at the age of 16, Embiid’s natural talent was recognized. Luc Mbah a Moute, a former NBA player, noticed him at a Basketball Without Borders program in Yaound?. This crucial turning point resulted in a scholarship offer from Florida’s Montverde Academy, where he embarked on his basketball journey.

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Embiid had to get past skill gaps and stereotypes in order to make the move to the basketball world, which was not without its difficulties. But he advanced because of his unwavering commitment to enhancing his game. Although the end result of this journey was his becoming a superstar in the NBA, his early interest in volleyball and subsequent switch to basketball lends a special dimension to his basketball journey.

What are your thoughts on Embiid’s WNBA doppelganger Nneka Ogwumike? Let us know in the comments below!