Philadelphia 76ers' star Joel Embiid becomes a US citizen

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Joel Embiid has tried to keep the ruse alive — that he was nothing more than a 7-foot couch potato this summer. To hear Embiid tell it, every day was easy like a lazy Sunday morning.

His biggest offseason accomplishment? "Sleep," he said with a laugh Thursday.

The Philadelphia 76ers' franchise center might not have been exaggerating about his desire for some R&R.

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FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2021, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after making a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Philadelphia. Embiid is having the best season for a 76ers’ big man since Moses Malone and he has his team atop the Eastern Conference standings headed into the second half of the season. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Embiid and his Brazilian girlfriend share a 2-year-old son. That can tucker out even the biggest of big men. He was put through rigorous workouts this summer by his long-time personal trainer in Beverly Hills.

And there was a pressing personal process: A native of Cameroon who also holds French citizenship, Embiid was sworn in two weeks ago in Philadelphia as an American citizen.

"I’ve been here for a long time," Embiid told The Associated Press on Thursday at training camp at The Citadel. "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 28-year-old graduated from a Florida high school and played a season in college at Kansas before the 76ers drafted him No. 3 overall in 2014. The natural question raised is, which country could Embiid potentially represent in international