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

[dhsilv2]

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

I mean...on paper you're right. But there's just not emotional wow factor in even the Olympics in basketball. I'd guess the top tier in the Euro league has more to it thought I'm not over there. I just...maybe to the RIGHT country the Olympics would do that? The problem I have with this is that it seems most non americans value the world whatever it's called over the olympics.

Meanwhile more americans are into the NCAA than the NBA, and it's not even that close.

[Strategist1]

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.

Team usa can field an A, B, squad and be favored to win Gold. They are desperate and realize they could lose. Both Team USA and Embiid are making weak moves here.

Embiid chose to take an easy path to gold… rather than play for Cameroon.

[durden_tyler]

We can criticize Embiid obviously but credit to Team USA for identifying their weakness-- that big man spot and this should be the move them to becoming a dominant team (at least on alternating international competitions, since they don't care about the World Cup)

[Ryoga Hibiki]

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

I mean...on paper you're right. But there's just not emotional wow factor in even the Olympics in basketball. I'd guess the top tier in the Euro league has more to it thought I'm not over there. I just...maybe to the RIGHT country the Olympics would do that? The problem I have with this is that it seems most non americans value the world whatever it's called over the olympics.

Meanwhile more americans are into the NCAA than the NBA, and it's not even that close.

you only looking at it from an american perspective, where you consider winning the gold expected.
whenever you're this situation there's no real upside and limited emotional attachment.
once you step out and winning becomes an historical achievement it's completely flipped.
moreover, at that point representing your country there's a much bigger connection with the fans, there's that national pride part the unites everybody that you don't see in club competitions. Many guys (in football) who won everything said how winning a WC is a different feeling and not winning one can be a big regret in someone's career (years ago Paolo Maldini said that to me, when I met him as he was speaking in a convention for my company).
Now, WC or Olympics? Wherever the competition is stiffer. As many US players are skipping the WC the Olympics becomes the bigger achievement.

I mean, can you imagine the size of Jokic's statue they would rise in Belgrad if Serbia wins next year? They might rename the central square after him.

[Up-And-Coming]

Giannis was almost 19 and had already played professionally when he came over. Embiid was around 16, in the middle of high school, and had barely picked up a basketball before. I get that people are going to cry about this; I'm not an especially huge fan. But there's a massive difference between those two.

I just used Giannis as one example. You can say the same about almost ANY international player. Their teams are based in the US so it's obvious they'll spend most of their time there. You don't see others running to switch their allegiances. Like I said, weak move from a weak dude.

Giannis didn't go to high school or college here. Plenty of Americans play for other countries, nice to see someone turn around and do the same for us

I don't think the US needs Embiid but I honestly don't get the hate he's getting for that commitment. It wouldn't bother me any way. It's his choice and I think there's arguments for all

[Lakers In 5]

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.

Kyle Anderson has Chinese heritage, so this comparison immediately falls flat.

[dhsilv2]

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

I mean...on paper you're right. But there's just not emotional wow factor in even the Olympics in basketball. I'd guess the top tier in the Euro league has more to it thought I'm not over there. I just...maybe to the RIGHT country the Olympics would do that? The problem I have with this is that it seems most non americans value the world whatever it's called over the olympics.

Meanwhile more americans are into the NCAA than the NBA, and it's not even that close.

you only looking at it from an american perspective, where you consider winning the gold expected.
whenever you're this situation there's no real upside and limited emotional attachment.
once you step out and winning becomes an historical achievement it's completely flipped.
moreover, at that point representing your country there's a much bigger connection with the fans, there's that national pride part the unites everybody that you don't see in club competitions. Many guys (in football) who won everything said how winning a WC is a different feeling and not winning one can be a big regret in someone's career (years ago Paolo Maldini said that to me, when I met him as he was speaking in a convention for my company).
Now, WC or Olympics? Wherever the competition is stiffer. As many US players are skipping the WC the Olympics becomes the bigger achievement.

I mean, can you imagine the size of Jokic's statue they would rise in Belgrad if Serbia wins next year? They might rename the central square after him.

I mean as I said, I feel many non americans still see the WC as bigger even if americans don't. And meanwhile, we've got posts all over here talking about how spain didn't care about winning the WC, I'm just taking them on their word.

Look, I wasn't of age but the "miracle on ice" was a magical US hockey moment that captured the country. So I fully get what you're saying. And thus I agree on paper. But this isn't the 1980's in anywhere in the world. Do people REALLY care anywhere? It's a legit question. I'm not sure I have an answer, but i'm feeling like it doesn't matter where...average people don't care.

[dhsilv2]

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.

Kyle Anderson has Chinese heritage, so this comparison immediately falls flat.

Define heritage? Like my great grandfather is from Italy. I have 0% connection to italy. If I claimed that "connection" I'd be laughable.

[eyeatoma]

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.

Kyle Anderson has Chinese heritage, so this comparison immediately falls flat.

Define heritage? Like my great grandfather is from Italy. I have 0% connection to italy. If I claimed that "connection" I'd be laughable.

Actually I believe you can apply for dual citizenship lol. There is a new thing about that. My wife has similar heritage, and she has been told that.

[dhsilv2]

Kyle Anderson has Chinese heritage, so this comparison immediately falls flat.

Define heritage? Like my great grandfather is from Italy. I have 0% connection to italy. If I claimed that "connection" I'd be laughable.

Actually I believe you can apply for dual citizenship lol. There is a new thing about that. My wife has similar heritage, and she has been told that.

I mean ok...but I'm still not italian at all! Never been there. I don't speak it. I mean what...I do like pizza. Sorry, I'm not.

[DrPampiloni]

I don't think it's that big of a deal. Maybe if Cameroon was a borderline contender.

Team USA can actually use Embiid.

They obviously can. But they should not have to.
You just elucidated why this is pathetic for both the USA basketball program and for Embiid himself. Bravo!

[Lakers In 5]

Define heritage? Like my great grandfather is from Italy. I have 0% connection to italy. If I claimed that "connection" I'd be laughable.

Actually I believe you can apply for dual citizenship lol. There is a new thing about that. My wife has similar heritage, and she has been told that.

I mean ok...but I'm still not italian at all! Never been there. I don't speak it. I mean what...I do like pizza. Sorry, I'm not.

You are as Italian as Anderson is Chinese, but unlike Embiid, there is a factual link there between him and the country, which was my point.

[AdagioPace]

it's a pity because it makes Olympics even a worst product. At this point I might prefer FIBA WC.
another word I would use is: pathetic

[CzBoobie]

No factual link fo Embiid? He lives in the US, he works in the US, he started his career in the US, he has US citizenship.

Did people complain about Hakeem playing in the 1996 Olympics, too? Never heard of it.

[DrPampiloni]

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.

How incredible that people only care about events that actually have a practical impact... Of course we only care because he completely tilts the odds in favour of the already juggernaut favourites to win the gold medal.
I am pretty sure basketball fans in the Philippines and Japan will care a lot about Kyle Anderson playing for China if it costs them a continental Asian title in the next years. For the World Cup it really did not make a difference.

We are all here lauding how much parity helps the league. What's your point?

[JayMKE]

To be fair to Embiid, Siakam and Koloko weren’t committed to playing for Cameroon either afaik and Mbah a Moute is retired too. Embiid aint looking for that kind of load if he actually does play international ball. He’s been in the US near half his life and is a legitimate immigrant, he’s far more connected to this country than the majority of other naturalized players(mostly American born) playing for random countries only for purpose of playing on their national team.

[DrPampiloni]

There is obviously a cultural disconnect between internationals and US Americans on this board/thread. The "old world" fans care a lot more about ancestry and bloodlines when talking national team sports, whereas the USA are a country which is based on multicultural backgrounds. I see how easy it is for Americans to say that Joel is one of them. He basically just needs to fulfil two criteria: does he make the US "wealthier"? Yes. Is he vocal about his pride to be considered American? Yes.
In the rest of the world this is absolutely not enough, wrong or right it may sound.

[Phreak50]

Define heritage? Like my great grandfather is from Italy. I have 0% connection to italy. If I claimed that "connection" I'd be laughable.

You and the other thousand idiots on this forum need to open your eyes past the nba.

Fiba has a rule that allows one naturalised player per team.

Yet you and the other idiots always come in and spout the same crap, not knowing about anything beyond your own backyard.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

I mean...on paper you're right. But there's just not emotional wow factor in even the Olympics in basketball. I'd guess the top tier in the Euro league has more to it thought I'm not over there. I just...maybe to the RIGHT country the Olympics would do that? The problem I have with this is that it seems most non americans value the world whatever it's called over the olympics.

Meanwhile more americans are into the NCAA than the NBA, and it's not even that close.

you only looking at it from an american perspective, where you consider winning the gold expected.
whenever you're this situation there's no real upside and limited emotional attachment.
once you step out and winning becomes an historical achievement it's completely flipped.
moreover, at that point representing your country there's a much bigger connection with the fans, there's that national pride part the unites everybody that you don't see in club competitions. Many guys (in football) who won everything said how winning a WC is a different feeling and not winning one can be a big regret in someone's career (years ago Paolo Maldini said that to me, when I met him as he was speaking in a convention for my company).
Now, WC or Olympics? Wherever the competition is stiffer. As many US players are skipping the WC the Olympics becomes the bigger achievement.

I mean, can you imagine the size of Jokic's statue they would rise in Belgrad if Serbia wins next year? They might rename the central square after him.

I mean as I said, I feel many non americans still see the WC as bigger even if americans don't. And meanwhile, we've got posts all over here talking about how spain didn't care about winning the WC, I'm just taking them on their word.

Look, I wasn't of age but the "miracle on ice" was a magical US hockey moment that captured the country. So I fully get what you're saying. And thus I agree on paper. But this isn't the 1980's in anywhere in the world. Do people REALLY care anywhere? It's a legit question. I'm not sure I have an answer, but i'm feeling like it doesn't matter where...average people don't care.

in other sports like football or volleyball it's true, in basketball not really, the Olympics are clearly bigger.

[Phreak50]

it's a pity because it makes Olympics even a worst product. At this point I might prefer FIBA WC.
another word I would use is: pathetic

Exactly the same rules.

You have no clue.