Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid has told USA Basketball that he intends to play for them at the Paris Olympics, a person with knowledge of the matter said Thursday
The Philadelphia 76ers' star let USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill know his mind was made up on Thursday, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Embiid has not yet revealed his choice publicly. Embiid is scheduled to speak at 76ers' camp in Fort Collins, Colorado, later Thursday.
Embiid became a U.S. citizen last year and could have also chosen to play for France — or even Cameroon, his homeland, if it qualified for the Paris Games. Cameroon will be among 24 teams playing for the final four spots in the 12-nation Olympic field next summer; the U.S., France, World Cup champion Germany, Serbia, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Sudan have already qualified for Paris.
It is a massive recruiting win for the Americans. Embiid was a rarity, an international basketball free agent — since he had never been part of a senior national team and holds multiple passports, which meant he had multiple options. "I know he met some of our players to discuss," France coach Vincent Collet said in October 2022. "I think he should play with us. But we will see. We will respect his decision whatever it is."
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