Isaac
Two years ago

Reports: Embiid looking at playing for France

French TV and radio network RMC Sport reported that Embiid has opened discussions with France's national basketball team about changing his nationality to play for France, which could culminate with him playing for the host nation of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

It’s not the first time that Embiid, a Cameroon native who has family in France, has considered playing for France. He has never played for Cameroon, though the country has tried to get him to.

FIBA, global basketball’s governing body, allows one naturalized player per squad, and France -- whose doesn’t have one right now. The team does have multiple NBA stars in Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum.

One of the MVP prospects alongside one of the DPOTY prospects?

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curtley
Two years ago

They may go into the next olympics as slight favourites if this happens. American big guys at embiid and goberts level havent grown on trees lately.

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Isaac
Two years ago

Top regular season rebounders (as a quick approximation of bigs) -

Gobert
Jokic
Sabonis
Capela
Embiid
Giannis
Valanciunas
Nurkic
Vucevic
Allen

Have to go a fair way down the list to find an American.

Reply #891201 | Report this post

Jimmyhooper15
Two years ago

Embiid and gobert up front is pretty scary

Reply #891202 | Report this post

Stevy
Two years ago

France still has Victor too. Embiid, Gobert, Wembenyama? They are going to be fun to watch.

Reply #891212 | Report this post

ME (he/kangaroo)
Two years ago

Scary prospect.

Reply #891214 | Report this post

Reader
Two years ago

Could those two bigs play alongside each other?

They also have a young fellow who has been described as one of the best prospects ever.

Reply #891225 | Report this post

Isaac
Two years ago

Joel Embiid started administrative procedures to obtain French nationality and be able to play with the French basketball team

Sounding a bit more solid.

Reply #891233 | Report this post

Weedy Slug
Two years ago

Simmons v Embiid at pf would be a story.

Reply #891235 | Report this post

Melbourne Boy
Two years ago

International rules, 3-2 zone with Gobert and Embiid at the back protecting the rim, good luck!

Reply #891237 | Report this post

Weedy Slug
Two years ago

Wenbenyama is a few years off the n.t I think.

Reply #891238 | Report this post

Eagle
Two years ago

Lucky for him the olympics is a few years away then

Reply #891239 | Report this post

Melbourne Boy
Two years ago

Ha, and add Wenbenyama at the top of that 3-2, with Rudy and Embiid back.

Reply #891240 | Report this post

Stevy
Two years ago

@Melbourne Boy

I agree. At his age, Victor really had some decent/good mobility in defending guards and small forwards at the Euroleague level in 1 on 1 situations.

In the WC or Olympics, I'd like to see some minutes/stretches of Gobert and Embiid at the 4 and 5, with Victor at the 3 in a zone setting as well. I think it can be doable.

Reply #891242 | Report this post

Reader
Two years ago

"Simmons v Embiid at pf would be a story."

Simmons normally bails on international competitions.

Reply #891243 | Report this post

Dunkman
Two years ago

Not only international competitions, how many nba games did he play this season?. :)

Reply #891251 | Report this post

UseTaHoop
Two years ago

Wouldn't he have to live in France for a period to qualify?

Reply #891256 | Report this post

Stevy
Two years ago

@UseTaHoop

I'm not sure, but I remember Andray Blatche being naturalized 3-4 months before WC 2014. He was able to suit up.

Reply #891257 | Report this post

Stevy
Two years ago

To further clarify, at that point in time, Blatche had never been to the Philippines.

Reply #891259 | Report this post

Stevy
Two years ago

For Joel, it probably depends on French laws regarding naturalization. As long as he is naturalized, he can play since FIBA isn't strict on residency.

Reply #891260 | Report this post

rjd
Two years ago

Hmmm, now there is no chance that Simmons will turn up to the Paris Olympics.

Reply #891281 | Report this post

Perthworld
Two years ago

I'm glad the Boomers won a medal when they did.

The real talking point here should be Embiid being a dog for ignoring his country Cameroon. What a glory hunter.

Reply #891284 | Report this post

Hakeem Mills
Two years ago

That's scary

But unfair on Siakham

Reply #892083 | Report this post

Hoops

Reports: Embiid looking at playing for France

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