‘Like an Avengers team’: Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid to play for USA at Paris Olympics
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid stated he has pledged to play for the United States at subsequent 12 months’s Paris Olympics.
Embiid was additionally eligible to play worldwide basketball for Cameroon and France however has as a substitute opted to affix what is anticipated to be a star-studded Olympic squad.
ESPN reported that the Yaounde-born Embiid confirmed his resolution early on Friday [AEDT] to Team USA govt director Grant Hill.
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Embiid, 29, joins an array of NBA stars who’ve signalled their intention to play within the Olympics because the Americans intention to bounce again from their failure to medal on the FIBA World Cup in August.
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry all stated this week they intention to be a part of the US squad which will probably be chasing a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Speaking to reporters throughout a Sixers coaching session on Thursday, Embiid stated he had opted to play for his adopted homeland attributable to “family” concerns and an awesome need to play within the Olympics.
“It was tough. Obviously, I love all three options,” Embiid stated.
“You know with my own country, which I love, a lot.
“But I really wanted to participate in an Olympics. That’s been my goal and my dream.”
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Embiid, who has lived within the US since he was 16, added that the delivery of his son Arthur in 2020, who’s a US citizen, had additionally influenced his resolution.
“You add that with the fact that my son is American, and that I’ve been here for such a long time. I just felt like, that for the past few years ever since he was born, every decision I’ve made is based on family,” Embiid stated.
“Having the chance to represent the US, and my son being born here…ultimately I really wanted to play in the Olympics.”
Embiid’s availability for the Olympics provides the US squad one other formidable weapon in a line-up that can begin as overwhelming favourites for the gold medal.
The 7ft (2.13m) 280lb (127kg) big was nearly unplayable final season, averaging 33.1 factors per recreation with 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
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Speaking on ESPN’s NBA Today, Ramona Shelburne stated the uncertainty surrounding Cameroon’s spot within the Olympics performed into Embiid’s resolution to signify Team USA.
“This was a really hard decision for Joel because he was born in Cameroon, he has ties there,” she stated.
“If Cameroon were qualified for the Olympics, he’d be playing for Cameroon but they’re not qualified and it’s no sure thing for them to be one of the last four teams in. Then it comes down to the USA and France.
“He’s a French citizen and a US citizen… but you see guys like LeBron James, Stephen Curry — former MVPs in this league and the reigning MVP says, ‘We’ve all got to get back together to get the USA back on top’… it’s like an Avengers team that’s going to go to Paris. You want to be a part of that.”
