Is Joel Embiid French?
Is Joel Embiid French?
By Jocelyn Alano July 25, 2024 12:35
Joel Embiid, the towering NBA All-Star, has captivated basketball fans worldwide with his incredible skill set and charismatic personality. While he is widely recognized for his contributions to the Philadelphia 76ers and his status as an MVP, questions about his nationality often arise due to his diverse background.
Embiid was born in Cameroon but was also granted French citizenship, sparking curiosity among fans and sports enthusiasts about his ties to France. This article delves into Embiid's connection to France, his dual nationality, and how it plays into his illustrious basketball career and identity.
Embiid's Move to the United States
Embiid came out of Cameroon as a 16-year-old in 2011 to chase his basketball dreams by relocating to the United States. He played one season of high school basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida before transferring to The Rock School, where he won a state championship his senior year.
Following a one-year college career with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by Philadelphia. He was drafted 3rd overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers after one year with Kansas. Embiid has since become an NBA All-Star, winning the MVP in 2022.
Embiid, who has dual Cameroon and French nationality, was granted French citizenship in July 2022. There was speculation that this news might be a harbinger of an international basketball future, as FIBA rules permit one naturalized player on each national team.
Although born in Cameroon, Embiid has never played for the Cameroonian national team. He declared himself for the 2017 Afro Basket men's basketball tournament, representing Cameroon; however, he later withdrew his name from the team.
Why Embiid is Playing for Team USA
Embiid was said to have chosen Team USA over the French national team in April 2024. Of course, the French basketball community was disappointed about the decision. Many thought Embiid could be a game-changer for their national team.
French Basketball Federation president Jean-Pierre Siutat was furious, exclaiming, "Team USA with him. Who can beat you? Come on, nobody." However, Embiid's choice to represent the United States was partially due in part and likely quite large based on his strong related history with the country and a much better opportunity at winning that stage.
Embiid's French Influences
Embiid is a native of France, where he has never lived but does have a family heritage. His fluency in the French language could have been another factor in this, as could the ease of obtaining Citizenship through France.
There has been speculation that Embiid's choice to get dual citizenship in France and explore playing for the French national team was an effort to improve his odds of winning an Olympic medal. A fully stacked France team featuring Embiid, Rudy Gobert, and hyped-up youngster Victor Wembanyama would be a massive threat to the gold medal.
On the Whole
Although Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon and has French citizenship, his basketball career and much of the substantive relationships that define his life have all been based in the US. Regardless of the possibility of a gold medal with the French national team, Embiid choosing to represent Team USA in international play demonstrates that no matter how hard France tried, his affiliation and identity are still tethered more to where he has called home for most of his life.
In the end, Embiid is a man of French descent and citizenship, but to mark him as simply a by-product of France would be overly simplistic. For as long as Embiid dominates national headlines, his journey will continue to resound in the ears and hearts of basketball fans forever.
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