- Joel Embiid is eligible to play for France or Team USA at the 2024 Olympics
- The NBA MVP has yet to make his decision and France has now reportedly given him a deadline
- France has reportedly told Joel Embiid to decide before October 10th
Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon and as such is eligible to compete for the Cameroonian National Team. However, with the 2024 Olympics coming around the corner, France and Team USA have emerged as the major candidates for his services.
Joel Embiid is a French national and he also went to high school in the United States of America, which makes him eligible to play for either team. And while he’s not looked eager to make his decision. anytime soon, Embiid has seemingly been given an ultimatum now.
“France has set an Oct. 10th deadline for Joel Embiid to choose which national team he’ll represent in the 2024 Paris Olympics,” according to reports.
France has set a Oct. 10th deadline for Joel Embiid to choose which national team he’ll represent in 2024 Paris Olympics, per @StephenTimeRMC.
Embiid will decide between France, USA, and Cameroon. pic.twitter.com/AICCkRYaQb
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 24, 2023
Joel Embiid is the reigning NBA MVP but the Philadelphia 76ers are far away from winning anything of note. It would make sense for him to pick Team USA if he wants to ensure the gold medal, and he would be a certain starter too.
France has an excellent team as well though, and will be a major challenger in 2024. What Joel Embiid will decide remains to be seen, although it seems like the clock is very much ticking for him.
Team USA Is Trying To Persuade Joel Embiid To Join Them
Team USA are putting together a team of superstars for the 2024 Olympics after they were humiliated in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. LeBron James is seemingly leading the charge for a Last Dance but they still don’t have the best big men.
And as such, the team is pushing hard to try and persuade Embiid to join them. He averaged 33.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game last season and would be an immense asset for Team USA.
Team USA has already spoken to Joel Embiid, as per Grant Hill.
“I’ll just answer with a simple answer, and that’s yes. I’ve talked to him (Joel Embiid),” Grant Hill said on SiriusXM. “He has options, he’s a great player and he’s also somebody we’ve talked to about next summer. We’ll see how that plays out.”
Joel Embiid has been noncommital throughout this whole situation and even brushed the question off when it was asked during the regular season. France has made it real by giving him a deadline though, and it remains to be seen how he will choose.
Why Team USA Needs Joel Embiid
Team USA can already put together a roster for the 2024 Olympics that would surely bring back the gold medal. But their options at big are Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo.
Both have been All-Stars and excellent players in their careers, but they would likely not hold up too well against the likes of Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, to name a couple of players. And that’s why Team USA needs Joel Embiid.
“Size is a problem. More specifically, a lack of it,” NBA analyst Chris Mannix wrote. “The U.S. played without Paolo Banchero and Jaren Jackson Jr. on Sunday, but even at full strength, the U.S. is woefully small. The U.S. needs help. It needs Joel Embiid.”
Joel Embiid may decide to play for Cameroon, France, or the USA. Whatever he does end up doing is sure to impact the 2024 Olympics. A decision to join Team USA would all but ensure the gold medal for them.
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