Captain of the French basketball team, Nicolas Batum says he “understands” that the possible naturalization of star Joel Embiid is “ethically disturbing”
Monday, RMC Sport revealed that Joel Embiid has taken steps to acquire French nationality, and thus be eligible to wear the Blues jersey. The news had the effect of a bomb in the world of French basketball: Embiid, 28-year-old pivot at the Philadelphia 76ers, has been one of the best players in the world for several seasons. But he was born in Yaoundé in Cameroon and has never lived in France, despite a few younger passages and several members of his family who reside there.
Interviewed by the newspaper The Team , Nicolas Batum, captain of the France team, gave his opinion on the Embiid case. Without getting too wet. “I can understand that it’s ethically disturbing, but from a basketball point of view… I put myself on both sides: player-captain, but also fan», balances the Olympic vice-champion and European champion in 2013.
For the Los Angeles Clippers player, the idea “add an MVP level player“At the Blues, “it is to be discussed. With the group, with the coach… The group has to be ok. But again, we are in a huge hypothesis.Batum acknowledges that “everyone would be affected” in terms of adaptation and playing time, including another pivot already in the Blues, Rudy Gobert. The French captain has already announced that he will ignore the Euro scheduled for September 2022. Joel Embiid has still not spoken on the subject.