On May 3, Beijing time, according to RMC Sports, 76ers player Embiid has started the process of obtaining French citizenship, and in the future he is eligible to join the French national team and build a twin towers with Gobert.
Born in Cameroon, Embiid publicly stated four years ago that he wanted to play for France. Embiid will visit France by the end of June this year and complete the signing of documents. He will then officially acquire French citizenship.
FIBA rules allow each national team to have a naturalized player, while Embiid also has never worn a Cameroon jersey in an official match. Patrick Beasley, the general manager of the French Basketball Association, has said that the introduction of Embiid is entirely possible, and the two sides have been discussing the matter two years ago.
French star Parker has opposed the naturalization of Embiid. Parker once said in an interview: "I think that in the national team, everyone should still fight alongside the native Frenchman, it is a matter of principle, Embiid is a good person, I hear all his news is positive, and he will speak, but I am not targeting him, everything is still a matter of principle." If you ask me for my opinion, I would say that I am not interested in such an approach, even if it is not something I can decide. ”
Obviously, the French Basketball Association did not listen to Parker's opinion, and the addition of Embiid, an MVP-level player, means that the strength of the French men's basketball team will be significantly improved. Embiid will become teammates with Gobert, Batum, Fournier and others in the future, and compete for the honor of the French men's basketball team at the World Series. In the 2021-22 season, Embiid averaged 30.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Currently, he suffered an orbital fracture and a minor concussion and is expected to return to the game in G3 or G4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
For the U.S. men's basketball team, Embiid's joining the French national team will become a major trouble in the future. On August 7, 2021, the French men's basketball team lost 82-87 to the American men's basketball team in the final of the Men's Basketball Team at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and won the second place, they only lost 5 points.