There is something that will shake the game of world basketball this summer. That’s Joel Embiid’s choice. He will wear the national team uniform of one of the ‘Dream Team’ USA and France.
Embiid acquired French nationality in July of last year. By the way, in September he even obtained US citizenship. This qualified him to represent the United States and France.
Embiid is one of the best players in the world. Although he is 213 cm tall, it is difficult to conclude that he is simply a center. He has more accurate shooting skills than anyone else and even possesses excellent passing skills. In the 2022-23 season, he played 35 games and averaged 33.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks.
In the NBA, there is already interest in what uniform Embiid will wear. If he chooses America, he will be able to make the ‘Dream Team’, which has been faltering since 2016, uncontested again. Conversely, if a French player goes to an international competition, he will have the most overwhelming big man team in world basketball history: Embiid, Rudy Gobert, and Victor Wembanyama.
But Embiid is pretty cautious. In an interview with the French media 「Requipe」, he said, “I have been asked this question a lot before. Right now, I want to focus on the NBA. “It’s a great opportunity to be a champion with Philadelphia,” he said. “I want to focus on that 100 percent. Of course, acquiring French citizenship is a good thing.”
“If I become an NBA champion, it would be great to be a champion at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympics, too. But if I win the NBA, I don’t know what will happen because I will be very tired. My physical condition is important,” he added.
Finally, he concluded the interview by saying, “I will decide after the season is over.”
However, even if Embiid chooses between the United States and France, it is unclear whether he will wear the national team uniform right away. Since he has suffered a lot from small and large injuries, he has no choice but to be more sensitive to condition management and preparation for the season. Choosing to participate in international competitions is not an easy choice for Embiid.
Not as much as the major leagues, but there are many cases where NBA players prioritize body care and preparation for the season rather than participating in the Basketball World Cup or the Olympics. Even loyal European NBA players often refused to play internationally for the reason of rest (although there are players like Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo who still actively serve their country). Even if Embiid doesn’t compete internationally, it’s nothing special. 온라인카지노
Meanwhile, French ace Evan Fournier said in an interview with the Spanish media 「Mundo Deportivo」, “Working with Embiid? let’s leave it for a while He got US citizenship, but he doesn’t think he’ll play there. If he chooses France he will be welcome. We will welcome it with open arms,” he said. “If another big man comes, he will be more competitive. He can create something special,” said a positive response.