It has already been reported that Philadelphia “76ers” leader Joel Embiid acquired French citizenship this summer, which could allow him to play in national team tournaments in the future. In the 2022 European Championship, Embiid did not help it, but even without him, the French played until the final, where they lost to Spain.
“He has not been issued a FIBA license yet. But it would be nice if he had one and he could play in the French national team,” Boriss Diavs, the general manager of the national basketball team, told the French media “RMC Sport”, adding that the national team always tries to create the strongest possible team. “We know that Joel has become a French citizen. We are trying to create a team with the best possible players and from them create a team that knows how to play together.”
Embiid was born in Cameroon, but has not played for that country’s national basketball team. He spent his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers, who selected him with the high third number in the 2014 draft. Meanwhile, the French basketball team has won the European Championships once (in 2013). Three more times it won silver awards, and six times bronze.
The next major basketball tournament is expected in a year, when the World Cup will be held in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. In its qualification, France is second in Group K with six wins and two losses.
Resources used:
https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/basket/b…
