Joel Embiid commits to Team USA at 2024 Summer Olympics

The U.S. men’s national basketball team is getting a major boost at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Joel Embiid has committed to play for Team USA in Paris next summer against France and Cameroon, confirms multiple reports.

The Philadelphia 76ers star informed the league and general manager Grant Hill of his decision on Thursday, according to multiple reports.

Embiid became a U.S. citizen last year and could also choose to play for France or even his native Cameroon if the team qualifies for the Paris Olympics.

“My son is American and the fact that I’ve been here for so long, I feel like every decision has been more family-based over the last few years,” Embiid told reporters. Four his decision.

He detailed that he will make a decision in the coming days when speaking about the issue at media day Monday.

“My goal is to go to the Olympics,” Embiid told reporters. “I like all three options. Cameroon – I was born there. I’m from there and I’ve always wanted to represent my country… If we get a chance or if we qualify for the Olympics, it will be an easy decision , but that’s still up in the air. … And then there’s the United States, who obviously have been struggling the last few years trying to get back on top. And France, they’re on the rise.

“I’m grateful that I’m in this situation. It’s a tough choice, but it’s a decision I’ll probably make in the next few days.”

Team USA will seek its fifth consecutive gold medal in Paris next summer. However, the federation has encountered some difficulties in the past few major international events. It finished seventh at the 2019 FIBA ​​World Cup and fourth at this summer’s FIBA ​​World Cup. Although the United States won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics, they lost to France in the group stage and then narrowly defeated France in the gold medal game.

According to , Embiid decided to join Team USA because he hopes to help the U.S. regain dominance on the international stage.

A big reason for the U.S. team’s lack of relative dominance in recent tournaments is the lack of big stars. While other countries have big men like Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis and Rudy Gobert, the United States has not been able to knock off that many star big men. Jaren Jackson Jr., Bobby Portis and Walker Kessler are three big men competing in this summer’s FIBA ​​World Cup.

Embiid will certainly help fill that weakness. The 2022-23 NBA MVP has been one of the league’s scoring and rebounding leaders over the past six seasons, earning an All-Star selection each year.

Embiid joins a long list of rising stars who have committed or shown promise to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were just three of the many star players who said they would like to join the team in Paris on Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.