Joel Embiid is latest superstar to commit to Team USA for Olympics

Joel Embiid is the latest superstar to commit to Team USA forthe 2024 Olympics in Paris.

In recent weeks, Team USA managing director Grant Hill had beenrecruiting Embiid, who was born in Cameroon and also has Frenchcitizenship. Ultimately, Embiid decided to represent the UnitedStates.

"After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA,"Embiid tweeted. "I want to play with mybrothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’vebeen incredible since the day I came here. But most of all, I wantto honor my son, who was born in the US. I want my boy to know Iplayed my first Olympics for him.

"I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was noteasy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France and the USA home."

Embiid will join a star-studded squad that could also includeStephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, JaysonTatum, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Bam Adebayo, Donovan Mitchelland Jimmy Butler – all of whom have said that they will play forTeam USA if selected.

"It's exciting for USA Basketball that Joel Embiid wants torepresent the United States," Hill said in a statement. "Joel and Ihave had several conversations about his goals and I'm lookingforward to continuing that dialogue knowing that one of those goalsis to represent USA Basketball next summer in Paris. As I've saidbefore, I'm looking forward to the process of building the 2024 USABasketball Men's national team roster over the next severalmonths."

Team USA failed to medal at this summer's FIBA World Cup in thePhilippines, and a major reason was their lack of size ofrebounding. The only big men on the World Cup roster were JarenJackson Jr. and Walker Kessler (who barely played), with PaoloBanchero and Josh Hart serving as small-ball 5s.

By the end of the World Cup, Team USA head coach Steve Kerrfound himself turning to five-guard lineups that featured Hart atcenter. Hart led Team USA in rebounding with 5.1 boards per game,followed by Anthony Edwards' 4.6 rebounds per game.

Now, Team USA will be able to turn their biggest weakness into alegitimate strength after adding Embiid, who averaged an absurd33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, 1.0 steal and1.0 three per game last season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

It's worth noting that this is a huge blow to France, thereigning Olympic silver medalist. The French national team wouldhave been much scarier if they entered the Paris Olympics withEmbiid, Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, BilalCoulibaly and Evan Fournier among others.

To recap, Embiid's commitment means that Team USA added theNBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, filled their biggest needand kept him from joining arguably their biggestcompetitor in the 2024 Olympics.

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