Team USA desperately needed a win after quite a few deflating losses in the FIBA World Cup over the summer.
It just got a big one.
Joel Embiid is reportedly set to announce his intention to play for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics next year.
The big man’s decision loomed large over next year’s games in Paris. The 76ers big man had a total of four choices he could’ve made here. Embiid has citizenship in three countries — his home nation of Cameroon, France and the United States.
He also had the option of just sitting the Olympics out altogether. No matter what choice he made, it would’ve had a massive impact on international basketball.
Ultimately, the 76ers big man chose to run with Team USA here, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Joel Embiid, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, has committed to play for Team USA at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Embiid informed Team USA executive director Grant Hill of his decision on Thursday morning, sources said, just days after the two… pic.twitter.com/W2dfW71aMs
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 5, 2023
This is a massive decision, folks. Embiid is now a member of Team USA for the rest of his life. Once you choose to play for a nation, you can’t switch. So for the foreseeable future — or, at least the rest of his career — this is the team Embiid will play for internationally.
That’s a huge deal for Team USA considering how the team struggled at the center position in the World Cup with Jaren Jackson getting most of the minutes there.
Now, Embiid takes care of that problem pretty easily. Everything else just sort of falls into place.
This completely caught the basketball world by surprise. It totally changes everything internationally.
Oh yeahhh we back to beating folks by 80 https://t.co/rLBhjzio6i
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) October 5, 2023
NBA players seeing the Noah Lyles jokes after losing in FIBA https://t.co/NOUSeSib6f pic.twitter.com/0Qg18KzQE2
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) October 5, 2023
Joel Embiid gives Grant Hill a nice birthday present by committing to play for Team USA. https://t.co/XBLsRxsNiu
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 5, 2023
TAMPERING TOUR BEGINS NEXT SUMMER https://t.co/WNQWTFaRc7
— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) October 5, 2023
Well that solves Team USA’s big man issue for the foreseeable future. Although it would’ve been really funny if Embiid made Gobert come off the bench for France https://t.co/OrcKyUxw1Y
— Rohan Katti (@RKattiJr) October 5, 2023
A part of me is disappointed that we won’t see Rudy Gobert get benched for Wemby & Embiid, but this will be a great experience for Joel. https://t.co/ARWEbUVRBQ
— Harrison Grimm (@Harrison_Grimm) October 5, 2023
Joel Embiid was seriously an Olympic free agent
Grant Hill meeting with him is funny but it worked. Needed him because USA have always lacked big men. https://t.co/pZfNxc4bhb
— Aidan Doc🧸 (@AidanDoc_) October 5, 2023
WOW.
That certainly changes things for the Olympics.
Embiid fills a massive void for Team USA. https://t.co/H4dUycxJgZ
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) October 5, 2023
