Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid Reportedly Committed to Playing for Team USA in 2024 Olympics
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid Reportedly Committed to Playing for Team USA in 2024 Olympics
Joel Embiid, NBA MVP, has informed USA Basketball that he will be competing for the United States of America in the upcoming summer’s Olympics in Paris rather than for the host nation of France or his native Cameroon.
Team USA’s poor showing at the World Cup in Manilla this summer can be attributed in part to its inability to adapt to the more physical nature of international play in the paint, consistently protect the rim (especially without Jaren Jackson Jr. on the court), or get offensive rebounds.
According to various reports on Thursday, Philadelphia 76ers player Joel Embiid will represent the United States in the 2024 Olympics.
NBA MVP Joel Embiid
Embiid will likely be joined on Team USA next summer by the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, and a slew of other top-flight NBA talent (though the precise roster will depend on the health and postseason success of those stars). The United States of America needs all that brilliance to cover for its lack of unity.
Embiid’s choice may be motivated in part by basketball considerations. To play for France would mean competing for minutes with Rudy Gobert at the five and Victor Wembanyama in whatever role he ends up playing (he’s not a typical five but defensively will want to be in the paint), thus the United States needs him to fill a spot on the roster.
There is no simple way for Cameroon to make it out of one of the pre-Olympic qualifying events next summer, but the African nation would have a better chance of qualifying with Embiid on the court.
Whatever the case may be, USA Basketball’s executive director Grant Hill, head coach Steve Kerr, and the rest of the organisation must be rejoicing today.
The United States’ basketball team just grew stronger in preparation for the next summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne stated that the six-time All-Star spoke with Team USA executive director Grant Hill two days before telling him of the decision on Thursday morning.
The current MVP of the league, Embiid, had three choices to consider. The fact that he was born in Cameroon and holds dual citizenship in both France and the United States sets the scenario for a heated diplomatic struggle.
In September, France gave the 7-footer a deadline of October 10 to make a decision, and it looks he didn’t need the extra five days.
On Monday, it appeared that Embiid would not be returning to play for his native Cameroon this summer, but it wasn’t because he didn’t want to.
Olympic participation is a lifelong dream of mine. These are three wonderful choices. I was born and raised in Cameroon, and it is a lifelong goal of mine to do so proudly. However, he added, “The ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympics.”
If we were even remotely likely to qualify for the Olympics, that choice would be simple. The situation is uncertain at this time, however, as Cameroon has yet to secure a spot in the 12-team Paris field for July 2019. Plus, I’d love to compete in the Olympics.
His decision comes after another disappointing World Cup performance by the United States. He joins a long list of famous athletes (including Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and others) who have expressed their willingness to play for Team USA.
