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

[Mephariel]

LMAOOOO don’t be fooled by his sad ass excuse.
Dudes a loser that just wants a championship of some sort, cuz an NBA title ain’t happening.

Been cheering for Embiid since his KU days, but lost a ton of respect for him today.

What an absolute loser. Traitor.

Are you Cameroonian? I don't have any skin in the game but he's lived in the US since he was 16 and that country gave him everything he has really.

I know immigrants who left their homelands at similar ages and don't feel any specific allegiance to their country of birth and I don't think they should have to.

The rumor of him playing for France was the odd one as he never actually lived there.

The country wouldn't have given him SQUAT if he was 6'0 instead of 7'0, he'd just be another "mooching immigrant". His Cameroonian parents gave him the genetic lotto win, not the good old "Stars & Stripes"... And yes, agree about France having the weakest argument.

It takes more than height to become a NBA player. Also, he is an American citizen so I have no issues.

[Mrakar]

Of course he is, that is his only chance to win something, and he don't even needs to play good.

France shat their bed by giving him deadline. We all know he is awfull under preassure...

[eyeatoma]

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.

You know, I don't disagree with anything you said (other than him being a 3rd stringer on France). But if you think this paints Embiid in a positive light, I have some news for you man: what you just said is exactly why people call Embiid a front runner.

Watch this - your points, my conclusion:

Embiid probably loses on another team. The US is by and far the most dominant team, it's also nearly a lost cause to try to compete with them especially with France and Cameroon. Cameroon would be lucky to even make the Olympics let alone compete at all. So of course, Embiid runs away and takes the easy road to a medal that would have been won without him anyways - its par for the course when it comes to this front runner chasing undeserved accolades.

There is an NBA team, and a super team. Completley different. The US Olympic team is comparable to the dream team talent wise. This isn't like KD going to the warriors lol.

[JDR720]

I have mixed feelings on this.

One hand, I couldn't care less.

On the other, I doubt Embiid plays much for team USA due to his load management and injury issues. Would rather let the younger players like Kessler, Mark Williams (hopefully), Duran, Chet etc. have a shot to make the team.

And technically, yes Embiid has been in the US for a while but a lot of the euro/african/canadian players come through the college/high school system. The Wagners. Pretty much all the Canadian players.

If we need Embiid, it reflects poorly on our other centers. If we do not need him, and is just a luxury player, it reflects poorly on the FIBA process since we already have the most talent by far (even if the results aren't always there)


Wouldn't be that surprised if this is partially due to Embiid likely wanting to leave Philly in the near future and the other US stars want a chance to recruit him/play with him and vise versa.

[twyzted]

Weak traitor. Should play for the country he was born and raised in.

[Dupp]

This is KD level bandwagoning

[CodeBreaker]

Cupcake mentality

[Strategist1]

Embiid is soft. Team USA and Grant Hill desperate to recruit him. Weak.

They deserve to lose to Serbia with Jokic in the semis.

[Strategist1]

USA might as well recruit all Canadians. They all play college in the us.. some go through the prep school route.

Yea.. only Sga would be only guy capable.. maybe Murray.. but the point is..this is a weak move. Just looks bad.

[LoveMyRaps]

This is KD level bandwagoning

It's actually somehow worse.

[durden_tyler]

This is KD level bandwagoning

It's actually somehow worse.

It is because it's bad for the game in general. We all hate super teams, so we would have wanted another team (France) close the gap a bit but obviously that's not happening.

[Strategist1]

An article on how some people felt when he got French citizenship..

Instead of inspiring his people and the youth in his country.. I’m sure many more from Cameroon will feel this way now.

Embiid is so weak

https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/all-african-countries/cameroon/basketball-naturalization-joel-embiid-opts-for-france-as-cameroonians-feel-dejected/

[Strategist1]

Embiid in 2018… “ I love my country, I am patriotic. I want to play for my country. If I have a choice to make, it will be Cameroon first…”

Source https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/all-african-countries/cameroon/basketball-naturalization-joel-embiid-opts-for-france-as-cameroonians-feel-dejected/

Liar

If he didn’t say this, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. But he did. When his country actually needed him for the olympics, he chose to bandwagon.

[durden_tyler]

Embiid in 2018… “ I love my country, I am patriotic. I want to play for my country. If I have a choice to make, it will be Cameroon first…”

Source https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/all-african-countries/cameroon/basketball-naturalization-joel-embiid-opts-for-france-as-cameroonians-feel-dejected/

Liar

If he didn’t say this, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. But he did. When his country actually needed him for the olympics, he chose to bandwagon.

Blame FIBA for the eligibility rules and well, it’s nationality rules too, so players do have options.

[dhsilv2]

A guy with his health issues playing in the stupid events should be a crime!

He might never win the NBA title so he can settle for the next best thing.

He's out of college, so he can't get an NCAA title.

[Johnny Bball]

Medal chaser.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Embiid in 2018… “ I love my country, I am patriotic. I want to play for my country. If I have a choice to make, it will be Cameroon first…”

Source https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/all-african-countries/cameroon/basketball-naturalization-joel-embiid-opts-for-france-as-cameroonians-feel-dejected/

Liar

If he didn’t say this, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. But he did. When his country actually needed him for the olympics, he chose to bandwagon.

Blame FIBA for the eligibility rules and well, it’s nationality rules too, so players do have options.

there's plenty to blame FIBA for, but this is questioning Embiid's decision as a frontrunner anf a traitor.

[zimpy27]

Kyle Anderson playing for China and no one cares.


People only care because Embiid is great. If he was middling then no one cares right now.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

A guy with his health issues playing in the stupid events should be a crime!

He might never win the NBA title so he can settle for the next best thing.

He's out of college, so he can't get an NCAA title.

the next biggest thing is probably winning the Olympics in a team that is not the US.
Actually it might be even bigger than the NBA title

[-Luke-]

He will regret his decision to play in the Olympics for any country when he faces my man Jo Voigtmann.