By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
In the aftermath of Joel Embiid choosing to represent USA in the 2024 Olympic Games, French Federation president Jean-Pierre Siutat said that he ultimately regrets that his national team tried to recruit the Philadelphia 76ers center and the “time and energy” spent on the matter.
“I met him [Joel Embiid] with Boris Diaw [French national team general manager] during a dinner in March 2022. We never went looking for him, we never asked,” Siutat said, per L’Equipe. “It was at his request that we took the steps and I am disappointed that we spent so much time and energy on a case that, ultimately, should never have been opened and it wasn’t created by any request of ours. This is a subject that is behind us now.”
Embiid, who received French citizenship in 2022, was given an ultimatum by the French Federation until October 10 to make a decision on whether he will join them in the next Olympics. In the end, the 2023 NBA MVP picked Team USA over France as well as his native Cameroon.
I love all three options,” Embiid explained on his decision. “With my home country, which I love a lot, but I really want to participate in the Olympics. That’s been my goal and my dream. You add that with the fact that my son is American, I’ve been here for such a long time. My family, my son, and having the chance to represent a country like the U.S. Like I said, I love my home country, but ultimately, I really want to play in the Olympics.”