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Performance aside, how did you feel about the idea of Embid playing for team USA? Was it overkill? Do you feel he should have played elsewhere? Was it justified because he spent plenty of time here in his youth?

we didn't need Joel Embiid to win

Joel Embiid needed to be American more than Americans wanted Joel Embiid

nothing more needs to be said than that

Same way I felt about KAT playing for the Domincan team despite being a US born and raised player. Dude is more American than one third of this board. Even zesty like most Americans. Extra zesty. Maybe too much zest. Others may argue not enough zest.

Have some pride and play for the country you were born and raised on. Period.

Optms wrote:Same way I felt about KAT playing for the Domincan team despite being a US born and raised player. Dude is more American than one third of this board. Even zesty like most Americans. Extra zesty.

Have some pride and play for the country you were born and raised on. Period.

People don’t have to do that. Some people were born and raised in a country that no longer exists, like Hong Kong.

The definition of bus rider.
For me, his weakest moment.

NZB2323 wrote:

Optms wrote:Same way I felt about KAT playing for the Domincan team despite being a US born and raised player. Dude is more American than one third of this board. Even zesty like most Americans. Extra zesty.

Have some pride and play for the country you were born and raised on. Period.

People don’t have to do that. Some people were born and raised in a country that no longer exists, like Hong Kong.

And those people get a pass. US still exists tho.

Embiid was raised as a basketball player in the USA, even himself years before the Olympics he mentioned that he was just a tall kid not knowing anything before he arrived to the USA - so he was criticized way too much for his decision to play for the US than he should've been (besides these gimmicks with French federation, that was weak), objectively speaking: it made lot of sense for him to play for the USA, at that time he was living in the USA for over a decade and wouldn't have been in this position as a player if he hadn't.

He literally arrived to the USA earlier than Hakeem did and no one mentions that against Hakeem that he went to the Olympics to win a gold with the USA.

Even with this controversy of Embiid and France - he never lived in France nor played there. So yeah, he was gold-chasing, but no idea why he is criticized for that.

Godymas wrote:we didn't need Joel Embiid to win

He was actually very crucial in the semifinal against Serbia, so I wouldn't be so sure (19 pts on 11 field goals and +15 in close game comeback he was a big part of).

The ultimate mercenary move. At 30 debuting for new NT you arrived to as a young professional to play ball.


The fact others have made similar mercenary move in past doesn't make his less so. The fact he was window shopping between France and US, while his home nation Cameroon was in qualifiers for Olympics, was pathetic.


Fact of matter is. No one thought of Embiid as an American until he declared to play for the US. Its a very hollow sitaution.


And I say this an African Swede. Zero issue with anyone representing their new adopted country they grew up in, but not when its clearly just a career move at 30.

The public window shopping was the worst part for me. Pick a 'Chise and ride wit em.

Why "disgusted" is not a poll option?

He should have played for an orthopedic surgeon.

He's an American, went to an American university, has an American wife and an American child, plays for an American league, in a historic American city. He should've just went with Team USA without all the histrionics but Joel is a dramatic guy.

And dual nationality is a dubious, amorphous concept that needs to be contested more.

Handing out citizenship like it's trick or treat candy is gross.

The Master wrote:Embiid was raised as a basketball player in the USA, even himself years before the Olympics he mentioned that he was just a tall kid not knowing anything before he arrived to the USA - so he was criticized way too much for his decision to play for the US than he should've been (besides these gimmicks with French federation, that was weak), objectively speaking: it made lot of sense for him to play for the USA, at that time he was living in the USA for over a decade and wouldn't have been in this position as a player if he hadn't.

He literally arrived to the USA earlier than Hakeem did and no one mentions that against Hakeem that he went to the Olympics to win a gold with the USA.

Even with this controversy of Embiid and France - he never lived in France nor played there. So yeah, he was gold-chasing, but no idea why he is criticized for that.

Godymas wrote:we didn't need Joel Embiid to win

He was actually very crucial in the semifinal against Serbia, so I wouldn't be so sure (19 pts on 11 field goals and +15 in close game comeback he was a big part of).

You're gonna sit there and pretend that we can't find a big man that could've done that. Javale McGee has an Olympic Gold medal with Team USA.

He is not random naturalized guy, but I dislike most naturalized guys and USA didn't need naturalized player on their team. To me it was sad seeing Cameroon being rather close to qualifying and their two NBA superstars do not play and one even play for USA. ANd Cameroon presided awarded him for winnign gold, how about award guys who actually play for Cameroon, IDK how about that, if guy from my country chose to represent otehr nation, not only he wouldn't have been awarded, he would have been seen as public enemy.

Godymas wrote:You're gonna sit there and pretend that we can't find a big man that could've done that. Javale McGee has an Olympic Gold medal with Team USA.

If your point is that the US could've won a gold without Embiid in vacuum, then sure - but in reality he was essential to defeat Serbia in Paris, so yeah, you needed Embiid to win a gold, he played ahead of AD or Bam in that game for a reason (and was great).

The Master wrote:

Godymas wrote:You're gonna sit there and pretend that we can't find a big man that could've done that. Javale McGee has an Olympic Gold medal with Team USA.

If your point is that the US could've won a gold without Embiid in vacuum, then sure - but in reality he was essential to defeat Serbia in Paris, so yeah, you needed Embiid to win a gold, he played ahead of AD or Bam in that game for a reason (and was great).

we did not need Embiid to win a gold. We needed a big man that could score 19 points on 11 FGs. It's very easy to understand the distinction. Embiid is a role player on team USA.

I'm a non american and I didn't care

The fact that so many non Team USA fans were so insecure about it was pretty hilarious.

Always concerned about what America has.

Optms wrote:

NZB2323 wrote:

Optms wrote:Same way I felt about KAT playing for the Domincan team despite being a US born and raised player. Dude is more American than one third of this board. Even zesty like most Americans. Extra zesty.

Have some pride and play for the country you were born and raised on. Period.

People don’t have to do that. Some people were born and raised in a country that no longer exists, like Hong Kong.

And those people get a pass. US still exists tho.

The whole idea of America is that it doesn’t matter where you were born; it’s a melting pot of people all over the world.

Albert Einstein was an American. Arnold Schwartzenegger, Salma Hayek, and Santana are Americans.

Imagine the thrill of getting Cameroon in the Olympics maybe getting a medal? Nope, he took the road more traveled.