In a surprising turn of events, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid shocked the basketball world by choosing to join Team USA instead of representing France in international competition. Many had believed that Embiid would team up with the likes of Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert to form a formidable French squad, but it seems like the big man had other plans.
Embiid opened up about his decision in a recent interview, revealing that he felt pressured to make a quick choice. “I kind of felt rushed… I wanted to take as much time as possible and it didn’t help that France put an ultimatum on when the decision had to be made,” he shared with The New York Times.
The 2023 NBA MVP went on to explain his complex thought process, which also touched upon his decision not to play for his home country, Cameroon. Born in Yaoundé, Embiid moved to the United States at a young age and has since become one of the league’s top players.
“Even right now, there are a lot of things going on (in Africa), there’s a lot of pushback of basically kicking out the French because there have been so many years of oppression,” Embiid said, shedding light on the broader political context that influenced his choice.
As fans and analysts try to make sense of Embiid’s surprising move, one thing is clear: the superstar’s decision has added an unexpected twist to the upcoming international basketball competition. Will his presence on Team USA make a difference? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
