2023-10-10 21:10:10
A snub for some! A “disappointment” for the French Basketball Federation and its president Jean-Pierre Siutat. Last week Joel Embiid announced on his social networks that he would compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games under the American Dream Team jersey. An announcement awaited by the basketball world which put an end to the suspense over his participation in the Olympics with the French team. For several years, the star pivot from Philadelphia, NBA MVP last season, has been proclaiming his desire to participate in this universal meeting with the Blues.
It was in this context that he took steps to obtain French nationality. A naturalization obtained nimbly in the summer of 2022 thanks to the strong support of the FFBB from the ministries of sports and Foreign Affairs and article 21-21 of the Civil Code (“French nationality can be granted to a French-speaking foreigner who contributes through its distinguished action to the influence of France and the prosperity of its international economic relations.”). French-speaking, unanimously recognized as one of the best players on the basketball planet, Embiid met the criteria. But since obtaining his passport, the player with three passports (Cameroon, France and United States) no longer showed the same eagerness to join the Blues. Summoned by the French Federation to deliver its decision before October 10, finally opted for the United States.
Joel Embiid’s main interlocutor during this period, Boris Diaw, the general manager of the Blues, returns to this decision, this about-face.
Did you often meet Joel Embiid to try to convince him to play for France?
BORIS DIAW. I didn’t need to convince him since he was the one who took the steps to obtain his naturalization. This was never an initiative of the French federation, nor of me. Obviously, I met him, even several times, and he clearly told me that he wanted to play for the France team.
Why doesn’t he do it then?
Because he has the right to change his mind. He may have lied to us but I think when he told us he was sincere. He wanted to play for the French team and compete in the Games. He even told me that he wanted to compete in the European or world championships. At no time did he try to fool us or lie to us.
What makes you think otherwise?
The first time I discussed it with him three years ago, he told me “I would like to play for the France team. » I told him that he first had to obtain his naturalization. He took the steps, became French. I told him “write us a letter so that we can request a Fiba license” so that he can play. There, he said to me: “Wait, I’ll think about it…” That’s when I understood that he hadn’t yet made his decision.
I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve… pic.twitter.com/6VHSQTKVl3
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) October 5, 2023
Is this not a snub for the French federation which had supported its request for naturalization to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
Not at all because I insist: we did not go looking for Joel Embiid. We just said to him: “OK, do you want to play for France? So that’s how it is and we won’t make any concessions just for you. This is our mode of operation…” We told him clearly that for us, the most important thing is the team. Maybe that’s what made him change his mind, I don’t know.
Didn’t he try to protect his back by saying if Team USA doesn’t want me, I’ll have France?
The United States always wanted him. He just gave himself the means to choose. He also had the opportunity to play for Cameroon, his home country which qualified for the TQO. At the end of the World Cup, he assured me that his decision was even more difficult to make between the three countries because he also wanted to help Cameroon to qualify.
Without any real ties to France, was his selection legitimate?
It’s happening everywhere: many other countries select naturalized players who have no real ties to their adopted country. It’s like that in all fields: political, scientific, artistic… From the moment you have interests in France, if you bring something to France, you can obtain your passport. When the government received his request, it wondered if Embiid could bring anything to France: the answer was yes.
So in these interviews, he had to say: “I want to play for France”?
Probably yes.
How much will the France team miss him?
When you have very strong players, you necessarily have the potential to create a strong team. But Vincent Collet reminds us, insists on it and he is right. If you have strong players but not a united team, you are no better. What we need to find for the Games is this osmosis that we had before the failure of our World Cup with players who have the right state of mind.
So the Embiid file is behind you?
Completely. The French team continues as it always has. Joel never played for us. It is time to move on.
Does the selection door remain closed for Thomas Heurtel who plays in Russia?
Our position has not changed and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is not about to end. There is no going back on our part. But today there is a different situation. We are no longer just the French team but the French Olympic team and we depend on the CNOSF. It is he who validates the selections and there must therefore be uniformity between all selections. The matter no longer depends on us.
So he has a chance of making the Games?
We will have to follow what is happening. Now selectable, possibly, does not mean selected. Thomas was our starting leader at Euro 2022 but the Games will take place two years later with a Thomas two years older.
Isn’t the most important thing that Victor Wembanyama is there?
Give him time to progress without thinking “we played badly last summer and with Victor, everything will get better”. He will obviously have a role to play in the France team but we are not going to give him the role of savior.
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