Joel Embiid refuses to respond to question in French in postgame interview

Sixers centre Joel Embiid, grabbed the headlines after telling a French journalist following the 101-104 playoffs defeat to the Knicks, he would not respond to his question asked in French.

Embiid felt devastated after his team lost in the second game against the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

He categorically told the journalist “I’m not responding in French”. The reporter had asked “Is this one of your most difficult defeats to take?”

The incident highlighted the player’s strained relationship with France. He chose the USA over France, when it came to deciding on where he would play the 2024 Olympics.

Reports reveal that the Cameroon-born centre, had written a letter to the French President in 2021, asking to obtain French nationality. He said his mind was made up to represent the country at the games in Paris. He later announced he would rather naturalize in the US.

The reigning NBA MVP has been selected to represent the United States at the upcoming Olympics in Paris.