Joel Embiid is now a U.S. citizen.
Joel Embiid has been given an American passport.
Embiid said he was sworn in as a citizen two weeks ago in Philadelphia.
"I've been here for a long time," Embiid told The Associated Press Thursday at training camp. "My son is American. I felt like, I'm living here and it's a blessing to be an American. So I said, why not?"
The Cameroonian native Embiid also obtained French nationality this summer.
The 28-year-old center has never worn the Cameroonian or French jersey in an official FIBA competition.
During the 2021-22 NBA regular season, Embiid averaged a league-leading 30.6 points and 11.4 boards for the Philadelphia 76ers. He became 1st center since Shaquille O'Neal to win NBA scoring champion honors.
Embiid also became the 1st international-born player to lead the NBA in scoring and the 1st center to average 30 points per game in 40 years.
In 328 NBA regular-season games (all starts), he is averaging 26.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 31.2 minutes per match.
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