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Joel Embiid will suit up for Team USA this summer at the Paris Olympics, though that didn’t always appear to be the case. Just last year, his national team status was in the air due to his having multiple citizenship.
Team France did what they could to sway the big man’s decision, but in the end, he opted to spurn the country for a different red, white, and blue. Fans stayed salty as Team USA made its arrival in Paris.
Embiid gained French citizenship (to go along with US and Cameroon) in 2022. At one point, he seemed interested in joining Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert on the floor to give France one of the most physically imposing backcourts in Olympic history.
Those dreams fell apart when he announced his intention to play for Team USA.
More on that decision from The Athletic:
Joel Embiid was interested in playing for France. To do so, Embiid needed a French passport. [President of French basketball Jean-Pierre] Siutat made sure he got one. And then things fell apart…
“Joel came to us and said that he wanted to play international basketball, he said he wanted to win, and he said he wanted to play for France, and he wanted to win with France,” [French basketball executive Boris] Diaw told The Athletic. “So, we listened to him.”
For Embiid to play for France, first, he would need to become a French citizen… Typically, citizenship is granted to foreigners living in France for two or five years, foreigners who have parents or a spouse who is French, or foreigners who were adopted by French parents. None of these criteria fit Embiid.
“He said, yes, I want to (play), make the paper,” Siutat said, referring to the passport. “So, I make the job, with the help of the government, to get a passport for him and for his son. And all the time, he said, ‘I want to play for the national team of France.’”
After receiving that passport, Joel Embiid spurned Team France while claiming that it was Siutat pursuing him, not the other way around.
They remained upset when Team USA made its Paris arrival this week.
@bleacherreport Team USA arrives for the Paris Olympic games! 🇺🇸 (via @USA Basketball) #nba #teamusa #basketball #nbabasketball #olympics ♬ Star Spangled (Bass Boosted) – SNC
While watching the squad board their bus, upset spectators were heard trolling Embiid.
“Give back your passport,” and “You should’ve played for France,” were phrases heard from the crowd watching Team USA get ready for training.
@libertylinephl Joel Embiid arrived in Paris, France today with Team USA ahead of the 2024 Olympics and was greeted by bunch of French basketball fans who demanded that he gives back his French passport while also shouting that he should have played for France. 🤨🤨🤨 #embiid #embiidmvp #joelembiid21 #joelembiidmvp #joelembiid #teamusa #olympics #olympics2024 #nba #76ers #76ersbasketball #sixersnation #sixers #sixersbaskeball #southphilly #philly #phillytiktok #philadelphia #philadelphia76ers #lebronjames #stephcurry #paris #france #france🇫🇷 ♬ original sound – The Liberty Line
It seems Joel Embiid will be a target for French citizens following the Olympic snub. It will be interesting to see how he handles the criticism on the court.
As for Team USA, they’ll be looking to land another gold medal, though their most recent outing vs. South Sudan didn’t offer much confidence. They’ll hope to shake the rust and make a statement in Paris.