This October, NBA Superstar Joel Embiid shook up the international basketball world by deciding to play for Team USA in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
Embiid had to choose between three nations – His native land of Cameroon, where he lived until he moved to the States at 16, France, and the U.S., both of which he gained citizenship from last summer.
Embiid took to social media to announce his commitment and explained that his choice wasn’t simple.
“I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home”, Embiid said.
The Philadelphia 76er continued, “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 been incredible since the day I came here. But most of all, I want to honor my son who was born in the US. I want my boy to know I played my first Olympics for him”.
For US Men’s national team fans, Embiid’s commitment is obviously a welcome one. The big man is fresh off of winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, is a perennial all-star, and is consistently in the conversation of best at his position in the world.
The US Men’s National Team has projected to send out an Avengers-like, Hall-of-Fame-laden squad next Summer, boasting names such as Curry, LeBron, and Kevin Durant.
Coupled with Embiid’s arrival for the ‘Stars and Stripes’ we could be in store for a Redeem Team 2.0 – An utterly dominant squad almost assured to win gold.
The US will undoubtedly be the favorite in Paris, and that is precisely why Embiid’s decision is viewable as disappointing.
France is a lower power in the realm of international hoops. However, they still have NBA talent, including veteran players Evan Fournier and Nic Batum. They feature fellow All-Star big man and 3x NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. With Embiid in the mix, France would be competitive and have one of the most formidable frontcourts on the planet.
Still, the talent level of ‘Les Bleus,’ compared to what would flank him in the U.S., isn’t comparable.
Cameroon has even less talent.
They have one NBA player, Toronto Raptors guard Christian Koloko. Still, Cameroonian fans were hoping that along with Embiid, NBA Champion and Cameroonian native Pascal Siakam would choose to play for the country and fight for a qualifying spot in the upcoming Olympic games.
Without Siakam, qualifying would be daunting but still a real possibility.
South Sudan recently qualified for their first Olympics despite having so few resources over the years they had to practice outside during the summers. Their collective belief in their country and program allowed them to increase their funds and be the highest-performing African team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, qualifying for Paris.
Embiid will probably walk to a gold medal with the U.S. The team has enough talent and even more on the way. They don’t need him. But his country does.
A gold medal is a big deal. Trailblazing and impacting a nation – an entire continent? That means so much more.
What Wenyen Gabriel and Luol Deng have done to turn South Sudan’s program around is remarkable. Imagine what Joel Embiid, a top 10 player on Earth, could do for Cameroon and Africa.
As an American, I’m happy with his decision. As a proponent of the game’s growth, I have questions. As someone rooting for my brothers and sisters overseas, I can’t help but feel a little sad.
He has his reasons, and they’re all understandable. It’s his decision.
Let’s just hope we get a show in Paris.