NBA star Joel Embiid watched YouTube videos to learn how to shoot
On Tuesday night, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will take the court against the Boston Celtics for the first game of the new NBA season. At 24, Embiid is already an NBA All-Star, with a huge social media presence (2.9 million Instagram followers) and the hype befitting a player who experts have pegged as a potential league MVP.
Perhaps even more impressive than Embiid's stardom is the fact that he's achieved it all in a sport that he didn't even play until he was 15 — less than a decade ago. What's more, Embiid had a seriously steep learning curve once he started playing basketball.
"I didn't know what I was doing," Embiid says in an essay he wrote for The Players' Tribune about his early attempts at the game.
Born in Cameroon, Embiid grew up playing sports like soccer and volleyball. "Nobody in Cameroon plays basketball. You can play volleyball," Embiid writes his father told him when he first expressed an interest in basketball after catching some of the 2009 NBA Finals on television.
Embiid, who was 15 at the time, was inspired by great players like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.
"The way they moved, and the athleticism, I thought it was the coolest thing in the world," Embiid writes. "I had that moment like, 'I just wanna do that.'"
Embiid started playing pickup basketball on a local court near his house. He'd even yell "Kobe!" with every shot he hoisted.
"Imagine it. I'm out there shooting bricks, yelling out 'Kobe,' on a busted hoop in Cameroon. Seven years later, I was playing Kobe," Embiid says of his surprising rise from unknown to a first-round NBA draft pick in 2014.
Embiid's prowess on the court might not have screamed "future all-star" at that point, but his size — he was already 6-foot-10-inches at 16 — did help him stand out. At 16, he was invited to a local basketball camp run by fellow Cameroon native and NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute. Embiid writes that his incredible height was the "only reason" he scored an invitation to the camp. And he almost didn't go because he was worried about embarrassing himself against more experienced athletes.
"I was so nervous that I didn't even show up the first day," Embiid says. "The second day, I showed up, they put me in the game and I dunked on somebody."
Embiid was "still terrible," he writes, but he thinks adrenaline helped him forget about his nerves long enough to make an impression at the basketball camp. From that brief performance, Embiid landed a spot in Basketball Without Borders, an instructional camp run by the NBA in countries around the world. After competing at that four-day camp in South Africa, Embiid was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Montverde Academy, a private school in Florida.
When he arrived at the Florida high school — a school with alums who include Mbah a Moute as well as Embiid's 76ers teammate, Ben Simmons — Embiid still struggled to adjust, both on and off the court. Embiid spoke very little English at the time and he'd only been playing competitive basketball for a matter of months.
"At the beginning it was kind of difficult for me, because it was so physical," Embiid told the Sporting News in 2014.
"I went to the practice on the first day, and I was so bad that the coach kicked me out of the gym," Embiid wrote in The Players' Tribune. "I didn't know what I was doing. I was so skinny, so soft. But the worst part was that all my own teammates were seriously pointing and laughing at me, like the a----- kids in the movies about high school."
Embiid went back to his room and cried, he says, and briefly thought about quitting. Instead, he let the experience inspire him to get better. His height and raw athleticism made him an attractive basketball player, but he vowed to "work and work" in the gym in order to improve his skills to become a more complete player.
To do that, Embiid turned to YouTube. He started searching for instructional videos using terms like "how to shoot three-pointers." The videos he learned his shooting form from were "just random people shooting threes with perfect form," he explains.
"I'd just try to imitate how they shot the ball, and I started being able to compete," he says.
And, it wasn't the first time Embiid had found success by emulating basketball players he saw on video. In addition to first falling in love with basketball by watching Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, Embiid says his first basketball coach at the camp in Cameroon gave him a DVD with highlights of Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon (another African-born NBA star, from Nigeria) in order to teach him how to best play the center position.
"He told me to watch it every day," Embiid told the Sporting News. "After practice, after every practice, I'd watch every move [Olajuwon] did — and I'd just keep doing that. I just fell in love with his game, his footwork, how he moves. I was so proud — I wanted to be like him, because he's African, moved from Nigeria to the U.S. I just felt if I had the chance to come here, I would try to do the same thing."
Embiid's improved play came through on the court. After a year at Monteverde, he transferred to The Rock School, another private high school in Florida for his senior year. That year, Embiid committed to play college basketball at the University of Kansas. After a year in Kansas, the 76ers drafted Embiid third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Today, Embiid is a bonafide star on the court, having led the 76ers to the second round of the 2018 NBA playoffs. And, he's overcome his initial cultural disconnect to attract a legion of online followers with his entertaining social media posts, which can include everything from him trying to land a date with Rihanna to professing his love for non-alcoholic mixed drinks.
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Meanwhile, Embiid says he owes his success to the fact that he never gave up, even when it seemed like his basketball skills would never measure up — a fortitude he says came from his parents.
"The only thing that kept me going was the way that I was raised by my parents," he wrote in August. "They always told us to keep working, no matter what."
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How a YouTube basketball player's one-on-one challenges became a career
The dream of making money and having a job while playing basketball used to be limited to professional basketball and coaching. The internet is changing how people like Stephania Ergemlidze can follow a passion and make a living in sports. By Joon Lee
Stephania Ergemlidze never expected basketball to be a career. Growing up with a physical disability and having never played organized basketball, she never envisioned a path where she could turn her passion for the sport into a way to make money and be a voice for positivity within her community. As the burgeoning sports community of original content creators continues to grow, social media stars like Ergemlidze provide a glimpse into a new future.
The mission
Following the killing of George Floyd, Stephania Ergemlidze wanted to find a way to unite people on the streets. She took a basketball hoop and traveled to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Minneapolis, at the heart of the protests emerging around the country.
“Everyone was just making those statements like, ‘This is how I feel about things’ and then not doing anything,” Ergemlidze said. “I thought about how I can go about actually trying to create change, and I think the best way I know how to do that is through basketball.”
Ergemlidze has been posting YouTube videos of “pop-up 1V1” games on her portable basketball hoop since October. She started taking things really seriously in January.
The resistance
As a first-generation American, with her parents from Ukraine and the country of Georgia, Ergemlidze needed to convince them of her nontraditional career path on the internet.
“When they first found out, they were not happy. Not happy at all,” Ergemlidze said. “... Because in our culture, you’re not really supposed to be seen like that. So it was more like, ‘OK, why are all these people watching you? That’s not OK. That’s not acceptable.’ And I think it took a lot of showing them what I’m trying to do and why I’m trying to do it, so then they start to understand.”
It wasn’t the first time she faced resistance. Doctors told Ergemlidze’s parents that their daughter would be unable to walk because of an extreme form of clubbed feet. After she spent three years in leg casts, doctors said she would never be able to play sports.
“Honestly my body is not made for this at all. I almost always have a sprained ankle still to this day, and my legs and just everything hurt all the time,” Ergemlidze said. “When I was growing up, my dad, he was like, ‘Stephie, why are you still playing? You’re not going to go to the WNBA or anything anyway. Why don’t you just relax, give your body a break.’”
The revelation
When she entered college at Boston University, she intended to pursue a career in law, but that changed by graduation. “I did not want to sit down at a desk every single day and just read contract law. That’s not fun,” she said.
After college, while figuring out what she wanted to do with her life, she worked for her family's wholesale manufacturing business. She traveled, going to trade shows, but the dream of pursuing a career on the internet did not fade away.
“Immigrant kids always end up being lawyers or, like, doctors or whatever, and in my head for the longest time I wanted to be a lawyer. I was studying business and business law. And then I just decided that I did not want to be a lawyer.”
The future
Ergemlidze might be one of the first people on the internet making a career playing basketball without much high-level professional or collegiate experience, and she won’t be the last.
“There are a lot of casual fans out there who love basketball, and what these creators have tapped into is a relatability and an aspirational element where these kids are looking at kids and young men and women who look like them and they didn’t win the genetic lottery that it takes to become a professional athlete,” said Jason Gilfillan, director of influencer content at the NBA.
“I’m not a professional basketball player, but I guess technically I make money playing basketball,” Ergemlidze said. “... The girls that play professionally, 100%, they are way better. But it’s just like I’ve been able to turn what I can do into like a career, which is cool.”
Today, Ergemlidze has more than 70,000 subscribers on YouTube, as one of the platform’s most popular women creating basketball content, and has nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok and 164,000 on Instagram. She recently moved to Los Angeles to commit full time to her next chapter.
Top 10 YouTube channels for young basketball players
Selections
04/17/17
4
min
5059
They will help your kids get faster, taller, stronger and improve their game to the professional level.
1. Professorlive
Number of subscribers: 1,132,215
Number of views: 227 297 192
"Professorlive" is the YouTube channel of American streetballer Grayson Bucher. He got his nickname "Professor" for his incredible dribbling and speed. Since 2011, the Professor has been playing for the Ball Up team and is one of the most famous streetballers in the world. With a height of only 178 cm, he creates real miracles of technology. By the way, in March 2017, the Professor posted a video of his training in Kazakhstan.
The subject of the video on the channel: learning dribbling and pumping individual skills
Go to the channel
2.
ILOVEBASKETBALTV
Number of subscribers: 941 677
The number of views: 87 496 872
“I Love Basketball TV” is one of the best Youtube -channels. If you want to improve, have lightning-fast dribbling and high vertical jump, and motivate yourself to play, then this is the channel for you.
Video topics on the channel: dribbling like NBA players, physical exercises for basketball players, setting up a shot and improving a vertical jump, and much more.
Go to the channel
3. Shotmechanics
Number of subscribers: 400 582
The number of views: 50 192 274
on the "Shotmechans" on the "Textbooks on separate basketballs. Exercises, tips, analysis of mistakes - this channel format is suitable for personal coaching (training) and will help you grow into a real player.
Video topics on the channel: defense tactics, playing skills of NBA stars, the secrets of the game of professional players and much more.
Go to the channel
4. Get Handles Basketball
Subscribers: 20000
Views: 25 913 732
on "Get Handles Basketball" Curry to Kyrie Irving. Their jumping, dribbling, training, loads - all this you can learn from professionals.
Video topics on the channel: tips on how to develop shooting and dribbling to a professional level, teamwork and much more.
Go to the channel
5. Pure Sweat Basketball
Subscribers: 537 537
The number of views: 186 166 59000
“Pure Sweat Basketball” - this is the development program 100% potential. The program was developed by Pure Sweat, led by Drew Hanlen, an NBA strategy coach and consultant. This technique is used for 9. .
The subject of the video on the channel: analysis of game skills and tactics based on the training of NBA players.
Go to channel
6.
Baller Boot Camp
Number of subscribers: 169,537
Views: 14,991,297
Baller Boot Camp is one of the best basketball training resources. The author of the channel is Augie Johnston, an American professional basketball player who plays in Europe. He will teach you the best basketball exercises and tell you about effective ways to train.
The subject of the video on the channel: basic skills necessary for a basketball player, training with and without the ball, improving the throw, jump and much more.
Go to the channel
7. Pro Training Basketball
Subscribers: 137 538
The number of views: 10 998 862
“Pro Training Basketball” - Youtube -Channel performing in Europe. Every Monday, a new video is released on the channel, according to which you will learn how to play basketball at a new level.
The subject of the video on the channel: development of defensive skills, effective attack on the example of NBA players.
Go to the channel
8. ImpossibleTraining
Number of subscribers: 132 886
The number of views: 16 536 147
"I'Mpossible" - Mic Lancaster, a well -known professional Bastee Trende Bastee Trende. On the channel, he uploads training videos of NBA stars and introduces their recipes for success.
Video topics on the channel: motivation, athleticism, tactical training and skills.
9Superhandles The technique was developed after 20 years of painstaking research in the field of sports. "Superhandles" will help you improve all the important skills in basketball from shooting style to psychological pressure on an opponent.
Video topics on the channel: training for pumping dribbling and shooting.
Go to the channel
10. Courtside with Julz
Subscribers: 16 898
The number of views: 1 667 122
Courtside with Julz - the channel of the very talented girl jals on pumping gaming skills. In her videos, she teaches basic tricks and techniques that will help improve your skills. It is this foundation that will help you move to a higher level of the game in the future.
The subject of the video on the channel: development of the basic skills of a basketball player.
Go to the channel
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Professor. The Journey of a Streetball Legend from AND1 to YouTube After all, his channel has 2 million subscribers. Between filming tutorial videos and the new Spiderman Basketball series, Grayson is still taking to local venues to give everyone a chance to play against streetball legend The Professor.
In a 1v1 game that will border somewhere between art and real sportsmanship, Boucher will suddenly throw the ball at your head and then stop for a second, making sure you stay on the floor after his crossover. And, of course, in the end, the Professor will win.
“Some people make me very happy. They say they don't care what I do as long as I don't throw the ball at my head. This is taken as a personal insult. When you seat someone with a crossover, it is also very humiliating for a defender, but the ball to the head is somehow on a different level of perception. - Professor
Grayson Bush is 33 years old, which for many NBA players would mean the end of a career. But he claims to be in his prime. This idea is supported by millions of his viewers. The Youtube star marks a new milestone in Grayson's career, which began 15 years ago.
June 2003. Boucher, then a local college player, was on ESPN's AND1 Mix Tape Tour for a mere 10 seconds. Wearing an oversized T-shirt, Grayson looked even younger than his 18 years of age.
“I'm just excited to play with Hot Sauce, Alimo, all these guys I've seen on cassettes. It's like a dream, you know?" - then the Professor said, and his eyes, meanwhile, from excitement, looked anywhere, but not at the camera.
A few minutes earlier, Grayson, then living in the small town of Keyser, Oregon, had been playing an AND1 tryout in Portland.
He proved himself well enough to get into the squad for a real game, where he had to compete with the aforementioned Hot Sauce and Alimo. He became part of a TV show at the end of which he will win a contract with AND1 and become one of the team's top players.
The summer he qualified for AND1, Busche traveled all over America and played NBA arenas packed with fans.
“I remember how nervous I was, thinking that I would be laughed at if I gave alley-ups incorrectly. The first couple of times I came out fine, and I decided that I don’t care, stop thinking about it, everything will work out. ”
It was clear that the Professor was not just some guy from the street who could make chips but couldn't play.
“He understood how to adapt to this style of play. The professor is still the same white kid from the northwest, very calm and modest. I don't think getting on the team made him arrogant, which is a good thing, because going from some small college to a huge basketball company could have blown his mind." says Aaron Owens, 43, aka AO, an AND1 legend from Philadelphia.
Boucher interpreted this situation a little differently.
“I think I've been exercising less. My ego has swelled to quite a large size. Being on a team like this and having unexpectedly large sums in your bank account hits hard on the head.”
Of course, it is difficult to ignore the fact that the lion's share of popularity went to the Professor due to the fact that he is, firstly, white, secondly, small, and, thirdly, because he came from quite a small suburb.
A few years ago, Boucher was a schoolboy with a height of 150 cm. Once in college, he practically did not go out on the court, and scored only a couple of points per game.
“I was constantly brought up in this team. They didn't like it when I tried to go beyond their system. I really almost never had the opportunity to show myself before getting into the AND1 tour.
His NBA dream didn't really matter when he was on tour. He quickly matured, speaking to a huge audience. He traveled all over the world with teammates who became his second family. He was the "Professor". That's what Thomas "Duke Tango" Mills, the team MC who yells "Oh Baby!" called him during the tour. at every opportunity.
When the AND1 tour ended, Bush had to start all over again.
“When AND1 was gone, there was no money in my pocket…”
The contract between AND1 and ESPN ended in 2008, and the Professor was left without performances and without money. In 2009 and 2010, of course, he performed at some one-time events, but it was very inconsistent. He had to turn on the fantasy to stay afloat.
“When I ran out of money, I realized that I had all my AND1 jerseys left. Without even thinking about it, I eventually accumulated almost 100 game forms, which I eventually sold on eBay, and lived on this money for almost a year. The cheapest one went for about $250, and some even sold for $600, $700. The buyers did not suspect that it was I who was selling my own T-shirts. I made it so that everyone thought I was just a reseller.
In 2011, BallUp officially launched, and the Professor once again had a chance to make a steady income playing basketball. During this time, he became close friends with another legendary player, Larry "Bone Collector" Williams.
2013 BallUp is playing against a team from the Chinese Basketball Association.
“First the Professor makes a move and the guy can barely stand. In the next attack, he again defends against the Professor, who decides to throw the ball at his head. The player got angry and got into a fight. Spectators became active, started shouting, throwing things at the site. It took a while to get everything under control,” retells perhaps the most interesting moment in the history of BallUp Bon Collector.
The video of this match went viral all over the internet. Just like the other video that summer...
It was pre-planned: Grayson dressed up as Spider-Man and went to the local park to play with those who were on the set at the time.
Although he doesn't talk much in the video, the visual effect of the superhero humiliating people on the basketball court, according to Bon Collector, reveals the Professor very well as a person.
“He is very, very funny in real life. A lot of people don't know this, but the sarcasm comes out of him all the time."
This video blew up the internet and gave the Professor almost a million subscribers in just a month.
A new chapter in my career has begun.
"I didn't have the money to hire someone to edit my videos, so I did everything myself."
But that was then. Now the social Professor's networks have become a business. He hired 5 people and set up an office in Santa Clarita, California. Now, when he plans to go to play on the set, there is always a person with him who will definitely take it off.
Boucher says he has no fake games on video. He only warns everyone that they will get on Youtube if they want to play with him.
“You know what's interesting? Many believe that I have become more recognizable now than I was during the AND1 days. But it's hard to say for sure. I would say that in the last couple of years when my Youtube went up, it's about the same. I think we had a much wider reach on ESPN because it used to be TV, but now I'm clearly more visible to people thanks to the internet.
And he almost didn't go because he was worried about embarrassing himself against more experienced athletes.
After a year at Monteverde, he transferred to The Rock School, another private high school in Florida for his senior year. That year, Embiid committed to play college basketball at the University of Kansas. After a year in Kansas, the 76ers drafted Embiid third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.
"They always told us to keep working, no matter what."
As the burgeoning sports community of original content creators continues to grow, social media stars like Ergemlidze provide a glimpse into a new future.
Why don’t you just relax, give your body a break.’”
ILOVEBASKETBALTV 
Baller Boot Camp 
In her videos, she teaches basic tricks and techniques that will help improve your skills. It is this foundation that will help you move to a higher level of the game in the future. 
They say they don't care what I do as long as I don't throw the ball at my head. This is taken as a personal insult. When you seat someone with a crossover, it is also very humiliating for a defender, but the ball to the head is somehow on a different level of perception. - Professor 
They didn't like it when I tried to go beyond their system. I really almost never had the opportunity to show myself before getting into the AND1 tour. 
The cheapest one went for about $250, and some even sold for $600, $700. The buyers did not suspect that it was I who was selling my own T-shirts. I made it so that everyone thought I was just a reseller. 
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