- Team USA will have a star-studded roster at the 2024 Olympics
- They are also hoping to have Joel Embiid suit up for them
- Embiid can play for the U.S. or France
It appears an international tug-of-war might be on the cards soon, with regard to which country Joel Embiid would represent at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid can suit up for Team USA or for France and the U.S. is hoping to get him to join them, as per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Shams Charania.
“The prospect of persuading reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid to A.) play in an international tournament; and B.) do so for Team USA instead of Team France, remains in play,” Vardon and Charania wrote.
The two biggest issues for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World Cup were rebounding and defense, both areas that Embiid can help with. Sure, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant reportedly being ready to play for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics fixes a lot of problems, but they could use another great big man.
Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo are really the only notable star big men for the U.S. and having Embiid as well would help form what would quite possibly be the perfect team. Would he join them, though, is the big question, and we don’t know if he even wants to play at the Olympics.
Joel Embiid Has Been Noncommittal
Grant Hill confirmed earlier this year that Team USA had talked to Embiid about joining the roster for the 2024 Olympics. Despite those conversations, it appears the Philadelphia 76ers star isn’t sure about the prospect of playing for the U.S., as per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“Team USA has done some recruiting of Joel Embiid, who holds both United States and French citizenship, but the Philadelphia 76ers star has thus far been noncommittal,” Windhorst wrote.
Embiid had been asked about his impending decision to play for Team USA or France last year and was noncommittal. He said it was something he’d think about after the season, but he clearly hasn’t reached a conclusion yet.
While it would be a difficult decision on who to play for, Embiid also has to factor in his health. Playing in the Olympics would mean he wouldn’t have a lot of time to rest in the offseason and considering his injury history, that isn’t ideal.
France With Embiid Would Be The Only Team That Can Challenge Team USA
With the likes of LeBron, Curry, and Durant potentially playing for Team USA, it’s hard to see anyone beating them. The only team that you’d give a slight chance to, would be France with Embiid.
In the Tokyo Olympics, France had beaten a relatively strong U.S. team in the preliminary round and only narrowly lost to them in the final. They struggled offensively at times in that Final, and having the six-time All-Star among their ranks certainly would have helped.
Embiid just won MVP this past season by averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. He would give France the firepower needed to hang with a loaded U.S. squad.
The 29-year-old wouldn’t be the only big addition either, as Victor Wembanyama will also be playing. The teenager already has his eyes on the U.S., as Wembanyama said he plans to beat Team USA in the 2024 Olympics with France.
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