NBA superstar Joel Embiid and model girlfriend Anne de Paula just welcomed their first child together ... making the surprise announcement Thursday!!
The news comes as a shock to many who didn't even know the couple was expecting ... but the new parents decided to go public as their baby boy, Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid, made his big arrival this week.
The name is important to the Embiid family -- Joel's younger brother, Arthur, died at age 13 in 2014.
"We are so blessed and fortunate to welcome our little boy in this family," the Sixers center said on Instagram.
And, in true Embiid fashion ... daddy had jokes.
"First of 11 or more? Trying to convince her but I’m not winning so far. I’m just trying to build a soccer team but for real I’m so excited for the future and my life has a new meaning."
"Kudos to @annedepaula_ for being so strong and giving me the Greatest Gift our life can offer #GodisGood"
Embiid and de Paula have been together since 2018 ... and this is their first child together.
Congrats!! ... and good luck on that soccer team, Joel!