*Update: Embiid commits to Team USA* (France gives Embiid til Oct 10th to commit)

[homecourtloss]

This is the more of an embarrassment for the USA basketball. That they have to steal the international talent , because they can't produce a quality front court players. The situation with Hakeem was different, at that time in 1996 USA had a good enough front court, the USA team didn't need him badly. They had Shaq,Robinson,Malone, Ewing, Morning. The USA basketball federation did this out of necessity, which is the bigger problem for them. Its obvious that USA have some struggle in the development of their big players.

There is no embarrassment and there is no necessity. You worry about what do United States does too much.

[Dr Aki]

USA makes good enough front court players. They just didn't bring enough of them.

They could've brought Myles Turner, and Bobby Portis, and they wouldn't have been crushed on the boards by 15 every game.

It was just a stupidly imbalanced team. Who thought they could small-ball their way to victory?

[eyeatoma]

Let the man do what he wants. He has valid reasons.

Read on Twitter

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The reaction here is sad...

[eyeatoma]

Traitor to his native country. Cameroon has a legit shot to make it. Embid turned his back on a Cameroon team that needs him. If they weren’t in the running. fine.

If the US selection team had any pride .. they’d go with Bam. But obviously they told Embiid they wanted him. They can’t deal with Euro teams with tall centres.

This is everything America is not.

[axeman23]

What if a player doesn't have fond memories of his home country?
What if a player was a minority who was oppressed in his home country?
What if a player doesn't have many or even any ties to his home country? Never went back to visit, doesn't have close family or friends there, etc?

Those upset are probably more upset that its the US, not that he's choosing to play for a country he wasn't born in.

No, I'm Australian, and I don't like in the international rugby scene how so many of the best Pacific Islanders for example, put themselves up for selection for Australia, and get picked. The more stuff like that happens, the harder it is to grow the game in smaller countries, and they end up as also-rans, being trampled by their own people. Australia/New Zealand will win anyway, why poach other teams players?

[Heat3]

Non USA fans should be overjoyed. Now they can use the "well they stole Embiid!!" excuse when Team USA wins gold. They were going to win gold anyway, but now people can point to stealing Embiid as the reason!

Everyone already knows Team USA will win with or without Embiid. People aren't mad because this will have a material impact on USA's chances. People are just embarrassed for Embiid.

There is nothing to be embarrassed about. He is an immigrant in a country made of immigrants. He became a citizen by choice and not as a cheap way to get on a team. He's no less an American than anyone else in the US.

[QingJames]

I am not at all surprised that the biggest frontrunning choke artist in the league chose the easiest possible path.

[CobraCommander]

Wait why you got Jordan Clarkson on the screen...dude is a Philippino dude and they LOVE ball.

Dual Citizenship.

But honestly - jordan Clarkson spends time in The Philippines like a native.

[Phreak50]

Someone here really claiming Miles Turner and Bobby Portis would have got the US gold and not best on the boards lol

The US hasn't produced a great big guy since Anthony Davis and even then he is 50/50 of missing the game if he trips out his door on the way to the arena.

If Miles Turner is your next best American born big of course you will do what you can to get Embiid on your side.

[QingJames]

Can't say that I'm not disappointed. Lost a little respect for Joel.

I was hoping he would play for Cameroon, his country.
Pascal, Embiid likely best front court international play.
Who knows how far they can go, it'll be huge for the country and inspire countless youngsters to follow them.

Missed on a bigger long lasting impact for a guaranteed medal.

Not to mention Koloko as a backup, who has a very FIBA-friendly game.

[ForeverTFC]

Something tells me that if Embiid had chosen France, people would be a lot less upset about his decision despite that fact that he has far fewer ties to that country than he does the US. No one gives crap to US-born players choosing to play for other countries that have much weaker national teams.

That said, I do agree that FIBA, FIFA, Olympics etc. are too liberal when it comes to allowing players to choose which country they want to represent. I remember thinking how impressive it was that the Filipino Women's Soccer team made some noise at the World Cup. Then feeling disappointed when I found out their roster was basically just composed of American soccer players with some Filipino blood.

You're probably right that people would have been less upset, though I'm sure France and Embiid would have been mocked pretty hard there. He has little to no ties to France.

The reaction you're seeing is really a function of the US having by far the most basketball talent in the world. So it's a blow to everyone else when the favorites with such an outsized advantage bring in re-enforcements at maybe the 1 area they don't have a clear advantage over every one else. Let's be honest, the US probably wins without Embiid. That's what's frustrating about this.

[azcatz11]

Ignoring the opportunity to get an Olympic Gold Medal (which is a huge thing to ignore as an athlete), maybe, just maybe, Joel is grateful for the generational wealth and opportunity that the USA has provided him and his family. It's easy to take it for granted as a lifelong American.

I doubt it. He wants a cheap gold to strengthen his legacy. I will be boycotting the next Olympics over this personally.

You really care about this that much?

No - I was being dramatic. I honestly don't really care. I just prefer players to play for their home countries

[azcatz11]

Let the man do what he wants. He has valid reasons.

Read on Twitter

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The reaction here is sad...

I have yet to see a valid reason. He's leaving the Camerooneans high and dry my man

[Pachinko_]

Serious question, given all the talent that's on the roster for 2024 Olympics...would it be the biggest chokejob of all time if they somehow don't win it all? Based on the comments here, seems like that would be the case - the rest of the world is way far behind, so IMO losing in 2024 would be the biggest failure in international basketball history.

Yes, it’s the Dream Team’s version of losing a game.

Τhe basketball world is not far behind, it's just fragmented in small countries.
USA Vs Serbia is the equivalent of watching USA Vs the State of Missouri.
But because Serbia is producing better players than Missouri it is sometimes a competitive game. If Joker shows up it's a derby.

[eyeatoma]

Something tells me that if Embiid had chosen France, people would be a lot less upset about his decision despite that fact that he has far fewer ties to that country than he does the US. No one gives crap to US-born players choosing to play for other countries that have much weaker national teams.

That said, I do agree that FIBA, FIFA, Olympics etc. are too liberal when it comes to allowing players to choose which country they want to represent. I remember thinking how impressive it was that the Filipino Women's Soccer team made some noise at the World Cup. Then feeling disappointed when I found out their roster was basically just composed of American soccer players with some Filipino blood.

You're probably right that people would have been less upset, though I'm sure France and Embiid would have been mocked pretty hard there. He has little to no ties to France.

The reaction you're seeing is really a function of the US having by far the most basketball talent in the world. So it's a blow to everyone else when the favorites with such an outsized advantage bring in re-enforcements at maybe the 1 area they don't have a clear advantage over every one else. Let's be honest, the US probably wins without Embiid. That's what's frustrating about this.

And Embiid probably loses on another team. The logic works both ways. Players aren't dumb. The US is by and far the most dominant team yes, but it's also nearly a lost cause to try to compete with them especially with France and Cameroon. Both of Frances best players are centers, so Embiid is going to be a 3rd center? How is that going to work?

Again, I've posted that he has the biggest connection to the US after Cameroon.

Cameroon, lol, they'd be lucky to even make the Olympics let alone compete at all. Seems more like people just don't like Embiid and want to find another way to **** on in.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

Let the man do what he wants. He has valid reasons.

Read on Twitter

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The reaction here is sad...

He's got some valid reasons for quitting on the 76ers, but that's neither here nor there.

[eyeatoma]

Let the man do what he wants. He has valid reasons.

Read on Twitter

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The reaction here is sad...

I have yet to see a valid reason. He's leaving the Camerooneans high and dry my man

See my latest post. You also have to consider all the **** he's dealing with Philly. Dude has dealt with absolute BS his whole career. I'm sure he'd like to go somewhere where it's organized, has actual stars, and is set up. He probably doesn't also want to do massive heavy lifting with Cameroon or in some cases France. He'd be both teams best players. People are even wondering if he'll play, here he can coast and be a part of a winning country, but also provide a defensive hub when games get dicey.

Also, don't think for one minute that the Sixers having capspace during the summer Olympics isn't another reason he's not joining. He'll want to network.

[durden_tyler]

It did not help that France is so deep in those big man spots. He'll get major minutes and start in that US team eh?

[oversteerdawg]

Let the man do what he wants. He has valid reasons.

Read on Twitter

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The reaction here is sad...

I have yet to see a valid reason. He's leaving the Camerooneans high and dry my man

Maybe he considers himself an American. You don't get to decide whether he's Cameroonian, French or American. I wasn't born in the US, are you going to tell me I'm not an American?

[LofJ]

Someone here really claiming Miles Turner and Bobby Portis would have got the US gold and not best on the boards lol

The US hasn't produced a great big guy since Anthony Davis and even then he is 50/50 of missing the game if he trips out his door on the way to the arena.

If Miles Turner is your next best American born big of course you will do what you can to get Embiid on your side.

There was a gap from 2010 to 2020 or so where the talent at the position coming out of the US was pretty bad, but it's turned around the last few years.

There are a ton of young American bigs that could make the leap to become elite players at the moment. Bam Adebayo is arguably already there. Then there's Evan Mobley, Chet Holmgren, Walker Kessler, Mark Williams, Jalen Duran, Nic Claxton, etc. that are all young, promising big men. I'm pretty comfortable betting that at least one of these guys will become an elite player (if not more).