Joel Embiid has been criticized by the president of the French national basketball team, Jean-Pierre Siutat, for rejecting Les Bleus for the USA, calling the Sixers star’s decision ‘an easy way to get a medal.’
Embiid, who has lived in Philadelphia since 2014, is a US citizen and also gained French citizenship via the naturalization process in 2022, with France believing he would play for them in the 2024 Olympics.
But after Les Bleus went through the ‘not easy’ process of securing French citizenship for Embiid (who was born in Cameroon), he returned to the US later that year – a decision Siutat is apparently still bitter about.
‘Team USA, with (Embiid), who can beat you? Come now no one, said Siutat Athletics.
‘This is an easy way for him to get an Olympic medal.’
Joel Embiid has not played for the Sixers since Jan. 30 after undergoing meniscus surgery
French Basketball Federation president Jean-Pierre Siutat criticized Embiid for rejecting Les Bleus
Embiid has not played since Jan. 30 after undergoing meniscus surgery.
He has only played 34 games this season.
As noted by CBS Sportthe center position is already well stocked for the French, with both Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama expected to play this summer.
Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo will likely start for the United States if Embiid is not healthy for the summer.
With the NBA playoffs looming next month and Embiid still sidelined, the Sixers are 38-31 and eighth in the Eastern Conference.