Joel Embiid obtains French nationality / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Joel Embiid has been given a French passport, according to L'Equipe.

Joel Embiid

MIN:34.38PTS:29.68 (61.63%)REB:11.56As:3.92ST:1.03BL:1.38TO:3.15GM:78ProfileNBA2021/2022

The Cameroonian native Embiid initiated administrative procedures to obtain French nationality and be able to play with the French national team a couple of months ago.

Via the report, the procedures were officially validated on July 5.

The 28-year-old Embiid has never worn the Cameroonian 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.

The 7-footer (2.13 m) was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Sixers, but he missed his first two seasons because of surgeries on his right foot.

He made the All-Rookie team in 2016-17 and was the runner-up in MVP voting in 2020-21 and 2021-22. He is a five-time All-Star and a four-time All-NBA Second Team selection.

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.

Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.