Chamberlain grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. At age 3, his parents divorced, and his father Harlan took custody of Joba and his younger sister Kevy. Joba served as a ball boy and Kevy as bat boy for Lincoln Northeast High School's state championship basketball team, and eventually graduated from Northeast. He did not jump straight to college; to help pay the bills, Joba briefly worked for the city of Lincoln's maintenance department.