At the World Cup in Manilla this summer, Team USA finished fourth in part because it was ill-equipped to handle the physicality of the international game in the paint, rebound, and to consistently protect the rim (especially if Jaren Jackson Jr. was not on the floor).
Not anymore — Joel Embiid has told USA Basketball that he will represent America at the Paris Olympics next summer, choosing the USA over host France and his native Cameroon, a story broken by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN and now confirmed by Embiid himself.
I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve… pic.twitter.com/6VHSQTKVl3
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) October 5, 2023
Embiid said this was ultimately a decision about family — his son in American and “I feel like for the past few years this has been more every decision has been based off of family.”
Embiid on his Team USA decision: “My son is American, and you add that to the fact that I’ve been here for such a long time, I feel like for the past few years this has been more every decision has been based off of family.”
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 5, 2023
A fun Mo Bamba cameo here as well: pic.twitter.com/YOdk3NUiiE
Embiid is expected to be joined by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker and a host of other top-flight NBA talent on Team USA next summer (exactly who will ultimately head to Paris will depend on health and how deep those stars end up playing into the postseason). The USA needs all that talent to mask its cohesion issue, which was the other key thing that plagued Team USA at the World Cup this summer.
It also could in part be a basketball decision for Embiid. He is needed on Team USA to fill a hole in the roster, playing for France would mean sharing time with Rudy Gobert at the five and Victor Wembanyama in whatever role he ends up being used for (he’s not a traditional five but defensively will want to be in the paint). Cameroon has not yet qualified for the Paris Olympics, it will have to come out of one of the pre-Olympic qualifying tournaments next summer (which the African nation would be more likely to do with Embiid on the court, but there is no easy path out of those stacked tournaments).
Whatever the reason, executive director Grant Hill, coach Steve Kerr, and the rest of USA Basketball have to be celebrating today — Team USA just got a lot better for the Paris Olympics, which start next July.
