Embiid changed his decision! became a traitor to the French men's basketball team
The playoffs haven't started yet, but Embiid has an accident! The well-known French media RMC sport exposed a letter, which is a handwritten letter from Embiid to French President Emmanuel Macron, dated October 28, 2021. How did this letter get into the hands of the media? Two channels: Macron's presidential office, or the French Basketball Association.
And the timing of the release of this letter is also very interesting: the day before, the U.S. men's basketball team just announced the Olympic squad, and Embiid was on the list! Grant Hill, the general manager of the U.S. men's basketball team, personally gave Embiid the No. 11 jersey. The next day, the French media exposed Embiid's handwritten letter, which did not give him any face, causing netizens to bombard Embiid!
What exactly does this handwritten letter say? In short, it is a show of loyalty to the French team! Embiid wrote: "After discussing with the French Basketball Association, I have now made a decision. I hope to get French citizenship and be selected for the French men's basketball team. I never had the idea of wearing a national team and I didn't want to play for a national team. ”
After the autograph letter was exposed, how did Embiid respond? He did not fight back against everyone's bombardment, but publicly posted that he was holding the American team jersey in his hand, and wrote: "Everyone, pack your bags, we are coming to the Olympics!" (Gold medal) Good guys, this is a shouting to the French media and fans: I wear the American team jersey, I am happy!
In fact, Embiid could have decided to play for the U.S. men's basketball team at the beginning, but he didn't have to commit to joining the French men's basketball team in order to become a French naturalized citizen. Last year, Embiid responded: "My son was born in the United States, and I want him to know that I am in the Olympics for him." ”
In October 2023, after learning that Embiid had chosen the U.S. men's basketball team, Jean-Pierre Siutat, president of the French Basketball Association, said: "In March 2022, we met Embiid. It's not that we asked to meet, it's Embiid who took the initiative to play for the French team, and we helped him get French citizenship according to his request, and we shouldn't waste energy getting those documents!"
Embiid said that he chose the U.S. men's basketball team for the sake of his son, which was obviously unconvincing, and the French Basketball Association didn't buy it at all. Some fans explained to Embiid: French legend Parker once said that he didn't want Embiid to play for the French men's basketball team, so he changed his mind. The leader checked that Parker's opposition to Embiid's joining dates back to 2018.
Parker said in 2018: "I'm not targeting Embiid, but he's not a native Frenchman!" In the 2023 Basketball World Cup, the French team is only ranked 18th, and Parker's attitude has changed: "The French men's basketball team has to improve, it has to change. If Embiid and Wembanyama come in, some players will have to leave!"
So Embiid changed his mind, not because of Parker, but because of Embiid's own choice. And Parker is not the president of the French Basketball Association, so he can't influence Embiid's decision. This Olympics is held in Paris, and it is predictable that Embiid betrayed the French men's basketball team this time, and what awaits him must be boos.
What do you think about Embiid's play for the U.S. men's basketball team?