Joel Embiid, the star player for the Philadelphia 76ers, has achieved the Olympic gold medal as Team USA emerged victorious over France in the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Embiid, who had the option to represent either the United States, France, or his birthplace Cameroon, ultimately chose to play for Team USA.
After initially expressing interest in playing for the French national team, he has now reached the brink of Olympic glory with his decision. Throughout the tournament, the 2023 NBA MVP has played a crucial role in the success of the U.S. team. Despite his current commitment to Team USA, Embiid has hinted that this may be his only Olympics with the American team. Looking ahead to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, he is considering switching to represent his home country, Cameroon, on the global stage.
Embiid’s decision to play for Team USA was influenced by various factors, including the chance to secure his participation in the Paris Olympics. “It has been a positive experience here in Paris,” Embiid stated. “Being away from home and family for a few weeks has been challenging. However, the group of guys we have made it a smooth journey. Paris is a fantastic city, and the next Olympics will be in LA. I might not be playing for Team USA, but I could potentially represent Cameroon.”
Embiid has recently disclosed that political considerations also played a role in his decision to forego representing France. He specifically pointed out the historical and political impact of France in Cameroon and neighbouring regions as a reason for his choice.
Can Embiid switch to play for Cameroon in the Olympics? If Embiid chooses to switch his allegiance to Cameroon, it would require approval from FIBA, the international governing body of basketball, and the cooperation of USA Basketball. According to FIBA regulations, a player can switch national teams if certain criteria are met, including having a valid passport from the new country and not having represented the previous country in an official FIBA competition for at least three years.
In order to be eligible to play for Cameroon in the 2028 Olympics, Embiid would most likely have to sit out the 2027 FIBA World Cup. This would open the door for him to pursue his dream of representing his home country on the Olympic stage.
