If you can't beat it, run! The French Basketball Association bombarded Embiid! Wiggins refused to join Team USA
On October 16, Beijing time, Warriors forward Wiggins was interviewed by Fox Sports and talked about the Paris Olympics: "I am happy to represent the Canadian men's basketball team in the 2024 Olympic Games, we are strong and have a chance to win gold!" Speaking about not playing in the World Cup this year, Wiggins explained: "At the end of last season, I broke my ribs. ”
Even without Wiggins, Canada is strong enough! This year's World Cup defeated the US men's basketball team and won the third place! Canada's 12-man World Cup roster includes seven current NBA players: Shay Gilges Alexander, Alexander Walker, Barrett, Dort, Olynyk, Dwight Powell, Dillon Brooks.
With Dillon and Alexander in the back, Wiggins and Dort in the front, and the Canadian defense is enough for other teams. Wiggins' last FIBA appearance for Canada was back in the 2021 Olympic Games. Wiggins scored 23, 20 and 22 points, respectively, but the team missed the Tokyo Olympics.
At that time, the Canadian men's basketball team was not united, and many current NBA players were reluctant to play. At this year's World Cup, they showed team cohesion and won a place directly to the Paris Olympics. Don't forget, Canada also has a Jamal Murray. Before the World Cup, Murray was selected for the 18-man training squad, but finally announced his withdrawal.
Murray has yet to say whether he will participate in next year's Olympics. If Murray and Wiggins both play, Canada can guarantee 8-9 active NBA players, enough for a game of rotation. However, it is not so simple for Canada to win the Olympics, because the US men's basketball team is about to take revenge, and multiple NBA superstars have already announced their play.
If the most important signing of the US men's basketball team is Embiid. On October 5 this year, Embiid promised to play in next year's Olympics for the US men's basketball team, but refused the invitation of the French men's basketball team! Embiid tweeted: "My son was born in the United States, and I want him to know that I competed in my first Olympics for him. ”
On October 16, today, Jean-Pierre Siutat, president of the French Basketball Federation, blasted Embiid: "In March 2022, we met Embiid. It was not the meeting we asked for, it was Embiid who offered to express his interest in playing for the French team, and we helped him obtain French nationality according to his request! We shouldn't waste our energy getting those files! ”
Embiid was born in Cameroon and received French citizenship in July 2022 and U.S. citizenship in September 2022. If Embiid really said that he played for the French team and obtained French nationality, it is really not interesting enough. The same is true of Banqueiro, who helped him obtain Italian nationality and chose to play in the World Cup for the United States.
Some fans said: The main American men's basketball team is too attractive, and when NBA stars have the opportunity to play, it is difficult to refuse. However, Wiggins said publicly in an interview: "I will never play for the American men's basketball team because I am Canadian, I love Canada, that's my hometown!" "PS: Brother Zui is a dual Canadian and American citizen.
What do you think about Embiid and Banqueiro's choice?