A new threat to the domination of Team USA in world basketball may be emerging in France. The 2020 Olympic Silver medalists lost to the USA in the Finals but did have some very encouraging moments that showed glimpses of how the team could actually overcome the USA to win Olympic Gold.
Team USA is much stronger than any other national team, but there is a major reinforcement coming into the French national team that was led by Rudy Gobert in the Olympics. Joel Embiid has finally obtained a French passport and is now eligible to play for the French national team, forming a trio of incredible big-men in Gobert, Embiid, and 2023 Draft prospect Victor Wembanyama.
Embiid will be eligible to play in the 2022 EuroBasket but is expected not to. The hope is that Embiid can be inculcated into the French system by the 2023 FIBA World Cup and be a key part of the 2024 Olympics that are being hosted by Paris, where France will be the biggest threat to Team USA.
Joel Embiid has officially obtained a French passport! 🇫🇷
How long until Vincent Collet is on the phone ahead of #EuroBasket? 📞👀 pic.twitter.com/c1TNAP1gMu
— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) July 13, 2022
Embiid is from Cameroon and has represented the Cameroonian national team before. The lack of competitiveness of the team has never led them to any major success. Embiid is now in a position to compete for medals in the Olympics.
It will be interesting to see Embiid and Gobert trying to work out how to play with each other, as keeping one on the bench for the other may not be an easy move for the coaching staff. With Victor Wembanyama also coming through the ranks, France arguably has the best big-man rotation in all of international basketball right now.
Team USA will still be massive favorites for all international competitions, but Embiid joining France gives the national team a little more hope, especially with more young players from the country joining the NBA like Ousmane Dieng.
