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

[dockingsched]

Is the outrage just because he chose Team USA?

Seems kind of unnecessarily salty.

Was there this much outrage when Jordan Clarkson joined Team Philippines? Eric Gordon with the Bahamas? Kyle Anderson? KAT? etc. etc. etc.

The same people were "outraged" that Lebron wants to play again for Team USA too, its just pure sour grapes.

You are just making stuff up. Nobody is outraged Lebron wants to play.

Go read the thread where news broke that Lebron had spoken on the phone with other stars after the fiba loss.

[dockingsched]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

[DrPampiloni]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

Ridiculous nonsense. Everybody was just as quiet also when the US option popped up (several months ago). The decision caused the uproar, causes cannot precede effects...

[dockingsched]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

Ridiculous nonsense. Everybody was just as quiet also when the US option popped up (several months ago). The decision caused the uproar, causes cannot precede effects...

But the US and France are not equivalent options. France is a country he’s never lived in, never worked in, his parents didn’t come from. It was a total nonsense option. Should’ve been ridiculed from the start, but I assume they stayed quiet cause the stuff they complain about now woulve conveniently stopped mattering if he picked France.

[Nuntius]

For what is worth, not every non-American has an issue with Embiid's decision here. The generalizations that are thrown around in all those threads involving FIBA basketball are quite annoying.

Embiid didn't break any rules here. He had the right to pick the team he wanted to play for and he exercised that right. Good for him.

[Yuri Vaultin]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

[Mephariel]

Is the outrage just because he chose Team USA?

Seems kind of unnecessarily salty.

Was there this much outrage when Jordan Clarkson joined Team Philippines? Eric Gordon with the Bahamas? Kyle Anderson? KAT? etc. etc. etc.

He did the equivalent of what Durant did when joining the Warriors. No one cares about the guys you've listed - they weren't getting invites by USA.

Embbid was born and raised in Cameroon and spent the majority of his life there. He joined USA because he doesn't think he can win with France or Cameroon. That's the issue. No pride. No spine. No courage.

So Hakeem Olajuwon had no spine no courage also right? He is a US citizen playing for the US.

[Yuri Vaultin]

Is the outrage just because he chose Team USA?

Seems kind of unnecessarily salty.

Was there this much outrage when Jordan Clarkson joined Team Philippines? Eric Gordon with the Bahamas? Kyle Anderson? KAT? etc. etc. etc.

He did the equivalent of what Durant did when joining the Warriors. No one cares about the guys you've listed - they weren't getting invites by USA.

Embbid was born and raised in Cameroon and spent the majority of his life there. He joined USA because he doesn't think he can win with France or Cameroon. That's the issue. No pride. No spine. No courage.

So Hakeem Olajuwon had no spine no courage also right? He is a US citizen playing for the US.

First off, are you glossing over the fact that Nigeria first qualified for the Olympics in 2012... 10 years after he retired, or just blithely unaware of the actual history?

So, umm great counter point there tiger!

I typucally don't include the dream team players in this for 1 simple reason. 1996 was the first time professionals could play. Young'ns don't recall that the olympics were ALWAYS an event for amateur athletes prior to 1996.

[dockingsched]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

Nah, I think you’re missing the point that this isn’t nba free agency where you can just accuse players of riding coattails. In you’re mind he should’ve refused to play for the country he considers home just cause they’re “too good”. That’s insane.

[Yuri Vaultin]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

Nah, I think you’re missing the point that this isn’t nba free agency where you can just accuse players of riding coattails. In you’re mind he should’ve refused to play for the country he considers home just cause they’re “too good”. That’s insane.

So, seeing as he's a happy American and eager to represent - just how many times has he clamored to play for the USA? They qualify for all events, so I imagine he's played for them tons, right?

[Roger Murdock]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

This issue is flying over your head. Embiid is a US Citizen and lives here and never played for Cameroon national team. He isn't abandoning anyone.

Modifying your ridiculous analogy... it would be like if Kevin Durant lived in San Francisco, but was born in Oklahoma City, but hadnt lived there in 15 years. He'd never played professional basketball before but got an offer for the Warriors (US Team), the Thunder (Cameroon), and some random team like the Hornets (France) and he chose the Warriors.

[dockingsched]

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

Nah, I think you’re missing the point that this isn’t nba free agency where you can just accuse players of riding coattails. In you’re mind he should’ve refused to play for the country he considers home just cause they’re “too good”. That’s insane.

So, seeing as he's a happy American and eager to represent - just how many times has he clamored to play for the USA? They qualify for all events, so I imagine he's played for them tons, right?

He repeatedly said he wouldn’t consider international play until he had a run of good health, which makes perfect sense.

[Yuri Vaultin]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

This issue is flying over your head. Embiid is a US Citizen and lives here and never played for Cameroon national team. He isn't abandoning anyone.

"Abandoning"? Lol Hyperbole much?

My perspective is most likely very different than many here. I am an immigrant. I am a dual citizen. I am well traveled. And I most definitely am not American.

My perspective is different than most here. That's all there is to it.

[DonDoolie]

No idea why people are so upset about this. USA winning gold by a landslide with or without Embiid. Who the **** cares where he plays.

[Nuntius]

USA winning gold by a landslide with or without Embiid.

You're the favorites, for sure, but the games do need to be played first. A lot of people said the exact same thing for this WC and, well, we all know how that turned out.

[Mephariel]

To me the funny part is that no one complained when he was still considering France. But now after he picked the US, all the complaints come out.

People would’ve been just fine if he picked France and all this “home country traitor” talk would’ve been quiet. Funny how quiet people were about France being an option. Hypocrites lol,

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to join a good team, especially one with the prestige of the USA basketball team. Especially since he is a US citizen.

Wanting to join a good team is not unique to Embiid. Did you see Dame asking to join a terrible team?

[Mephariel]

The point is flying over your head, so here's a breakdown.

Would anyone care if Durant left OKC for the lowly (at the time) Sacramento Kings? No. In fact he may have garnered respect.

But... he pretty much joined the best team in the league that had just beaten his team.

Embiid joined what is considered the favorite team to win OVER his native country where he was born and raised. I guarantee if Cameroon was the favorite, he'd be playing for them and riding the coattails of the players that actually earned the Olympic berth.

I personally feel that the players that earn the Olympic spot should be the ones to represent them at said tournament.

This issue is flying over your head. Embiid is a US Citizen and lives here and never played for Cameroon national team. He isn't abandoning anyone.

"Abandoning"? Lol Hyperbole much?

My perspective is most likely very different than many here. I am an immigrant. I am a dual citizen. I am well traveled. And I most definitely am not American.

My perspective is different than most here. That's all there is to it.

I am an immigrant too. But I am a US citizen and the life that I have is because of this country, not any other. If I can magically play professional basketball, I will join team USA as well.

[DonDoolie]

USA winning gold by a landslide with or without Embiid.

You're the favorites, for sure, but the games do need to be played first. A lot of people said the exact same thing for this WC and, well, we all know how that turned out.

I'm Canadian not American and the USA has won 7 of the last 8 gold medals in the Olympics. If they put out their A squad they are not losing. That WC team wouldn't even be considered their D team if we are being real. The talent pool they have is just unmatched right now.

[durden_tyler]

For what is worth, not every non-American has an issue with Embiid's decision here. The generalizations that are thrown around in all those threads involving FIBA basketball are quite annoying.

Embiid didn't break any rules here. He had the right to pick the team he wanted to play for and he exercised that right. Good for him.

Yes it’s mostly the Eurofans who are bitter for obvious reasons.

[Nuntius]

USA winning gold by a landslide with or without Embiid.

You're the favorites, for sure, but the games do need to be played first. A lot of people said the exact same thing for this WC and, well, we all know how that turned out.

I'm Canadian not American and the USA has won 7 of the last 8 gold medals in the Olympics. If they put out their A squad they are not losing. That WC team wouldn't even be considered their D team if we are being real. The talent pool they have is just unmatched right now.

Once again, they're the favorites. All I'm saying is that the games need to be played before we crown anyone. Anything can happen in single elimination games.

Also, the US is never going to put out their "A squad". Their "A squad" includes a bunch of dudes over 35 that have struggled through a ton of injuries in the last couple of years. It's a tall task to expect all of them to be 100% ready to go in late July.