Joel Embiid chooses to represents America, not France at the Olympics
Embiid Decides to Represent the United States at 2024 Paris Games
6 October 2023
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has decided to represent the United States in the upcoming 2024 Olympics, making a historic choice between his triple nationality of Cameroon, American, and French. The announcement has sparked both excitement and controversy among fans and netizens alike, with some praising the decision as a display of patriotism and others criticizing it as an easy path.
According to recent reports, Embiid's choice to represent the United States seems to be influenced by his son, who is an American citizen. This has led netizens to joke about the situation, with some finding it amusing while others believe it to be a moral joke. In July 2019, Embiid became a French citizen, and at that time, it was speculated that he would play well in the FIBA basketball tournament alongside NBA players Jordan Ferrell, Gordon Giricek, Wesley Johnson, and Nicolas Batum representing France. However, after one year of the World Cup, Embiid chose not to represent France but instead opted for the United States.
With the decision to represent the United States, Embiid is set to join other top-tier NBA players such as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant on the 2024 Dream Team. The potential elite roster has led many to question whether there will be any competition for the team in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
On the contrary, netizens have also criticized Embiid's decision, calling him a "coward" and suggesting that winning Serbia next year would not count as defeating Jaricik. Despite this, American basketball team lacks depth currently, and Embiid is undoubtedly a better player than many of them. It is worth mentioning that Embiid has flirted with France in the past, given his origins from Cameroon and subsequent French citizenship before obtaining American citizenship after living in the United States for a considerable amount of time.
Some netizens have teased Embiid about playing softball, but others feel that the addition of Embiid to the US team is beneficial, even though it may not be the most conventional path. A Los Angeles Lakers journalist, Cooper Halpern, has suggested that as long as Anthony Davis (AD) also plays in the Olympics, having Embiid as a backup would be suitable.
With the formation of what some have referred to as the "revenge squad", consisting of James, Durant, Embiid, Curry, and Booker in the starting lineup, netizens from various quarters are eagerly waiting for how this team will perform in the Olympics. While some find the situation exciting and thrilling, others are uninterested, viewing it as a journey of vengeance rather than a competition.
In conclusion, Embiid's decision to represent the United States has sparked various reactions from netizens, ranging from praise for his patriotism to criticism for choosing an easier path. Despite the controversy surrounding his choice, there is no doubt that Embiid will be a significant addition to the 2024 Dream Team and could potentially lead the United States to victory in Paris.