By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Joel Embiid officially received his French citizenship, validated by the official gazette of the French Republic (Journal Officiel de la République Française) on June 4, according to a report by bebasket.fr.
Cameroon-born Embiid was a strong MVP candidate during the 2021-22 NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers, leading the league with 30.6 points scored per game.
With his newly-acquired French passport, the possibility of him joining the French national team for the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024 is more than viable, as there are no longer legal obstacles.
Recently, the case of former Sixer Lorenzo Brown, who received his Spanish citizenship in order to reinforce Spain in its upcoming FIBA EuroBasket duties, resulted in criticism by the Spanish Players Union, as well as in the reaction of Real Madrid veteran Rudy Fernandez. The argument of both sides is that Brown’s arrival in the Spanish national team will decrease the chances of native players competing for the nation.