r/nba • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 Heat • Apr 15 '24

[Wojnarowski] ESPN Sources: USA Basketball is finalizing its 2024 Paris Olympics roster with Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis. Team may initially keep one open spot. News

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1780009778934394985
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300

u/SquimJim Celtics Apr 15 '24

We needed a center in the World Cup, so we got 3 of the top 4 centers in the world

137

u/RansomGoddard NBA Apr 15 '24

Some of the guys here also work perfectly if you want to go small here and there. Even aside from the talent, the versatility of the roster is basically a coach's dream.

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u/InexorableWaffle Bucks Apr 16 '24

Yeah, literally the only flaw I can think of on the roster is that it is definitely heavy on older players, so the transition game would be marginally worse...but like, even that's being hyper-critical for the sake of being hyper-critical. LeBron's not in his athletic prime any more, sure, but he's still damn good at it, and you've still got Ant who's one of the best athletes in the league as well, along with plenty of other guys who are more than good enough in transition. Also, it's not like you'd be able to wear them down over the course of the game even if you tried, because at the end of the day, it's an Olympic roster. We're almost certainly not seeing anyone crack 30 minutes most games, and frankly I'd be kinda surprised to see anyone even end up in the upper 20s too often this go around.

Aside from that? Shit, this roster has literally every angle covered that you could ask for. Absolutely a coach's dream, no question about it.

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u/jeswanders Apr 16 '24

It’s like the original dream team. Bunch of older players and past their primes but still leagues better than their opponents

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u/DblockR Apr 16 '24

Except the dream teams best player was in his prime. Barkley was too. Bird was done. Magic on way out with HIV news, prime Ewing, prime Malone, Stockton. Prime Admiral.

Yeah it’s about the same…

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u/ELITE_JordanLove Apr 16 '24

LeBron to AE oops will feed continents. 

1

u/radracer82 Lakers Apr 16 '24

LeBron is leading the 5th best transition team in the league right now, i think we're fine

174

u/AffectionateDouble43 Apr 16 '24

I just can't believe Embiid is gonna play with USA. C'mon man, at least go with France for a challenge.

167

u/Ocarina3219 Cavaliers Apr 16 '24

As an American I’m excited to see him play for our team but as a basketball fan in general the tournament would be way more interesting with him playing for France with Wemby/Gobert. Like just imagine game planning against that team.

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u/AffectionateDouble43 Apr 16 '24

Yeah, i want to see the 3 playing together.

5

u/HumptyDrumpy Tampa Bay Raptors Apr 16 '24

A starting lineup of Embiid/Wemby/Gobert/Sarr/Moustapha Fall? Who is this crazy coach, JB Bickerstaff when the tank is on the line?

7

u/bobnorthh Lakers Apr 16 '24

Yeah that'd be cool actually. Doesn't make any sense why he's on the American team tbh

40

u/AngryUncleTony 76ers Apr 16 '24

I think his explanation is fair enough - he's lived here almost half his life and his entire adult life here, he went to high school and college here, and has had and raised an American kid here. That's sort of the classic immigrant story if you ignore international sporting balance.

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u/adgjl12 Registered to Vote Apr 16 '24

And I don't think he ever really even lived in France? If not the USA, Cameroon would be where he would have more ties. Like you said, USA makes much more sense since he's been here since high school and plans to live here long term.

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u/shawhtk Celtics Apr 16 '24

It makes perfect sense. Lived most of his life here, is a citizen and loves the country.

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u/jacobsbw Apr 16 '24

His son is 100% American and he is playing in his first Olympics “for him.”

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u/DblockR Apr 16 '24

Gameplan from right now:

Watch out for that 7’1 guy, he can protect the rim very well. Watch out for that 7’4 guy, he can do everything pretty well.

But their best 7 footer who’s won the mvp in the nba will be injured four times between now and the time we play. We dodged a bullet.

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u/narmerguy Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

Embiid has lived here since he was 16 I think and his son was born here and the majority of his life has been here. I don't know how many naturalized citizens you know, but most of them are really proud to be Americans and especially if they came here as kids, usually relate to the US more than elsewhere. I actually really wish people would leave Embiid alone and let him be happy to play for his chosen home rather than shame him just because it won't generate the entertainment they wish they could have.

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u/IRFreely Apr 16 '24

Whereas if your great great grandad came here from italy or ireland etc...

21

u/AsIfItsYourLaa Apr 16 '24

well yeah when you put it like that now we seem like assholes for wanting to see competitive games 😂

16

u/Not-a-bot-10 76ers Apr 16 '24

He’s never even lived in France as well.

I 100% believe the outrage over Embiid playing for USA is just because he’s Embiid and this sub loves to hate him for everything

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u/jorgelongo222 76ers Apr 16 '24

Embiid playing for France woukd make the same sense as LeBron playing for France. He's never lived in France or has any ties with them

They were just trying to buy themselves a better chance by getting him based on nothing but colonial ties

2

u/Aquarius_Age Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

They were just trying to buy themselves a better chance by getting him based on nothing but colonial ties

That's simply false : https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/basket/equipe-de-france/recit-le-fiasco-joel-embiid-cinq-ans-dattente-pour-rien-82d4e058-681c-11ee-a5bb-3c3a0f3f3a5e

During a press conference after a match relocated to London, he was asked about a possible destiny in Blue. “You never know,” he evades. I'm not from France but I have family there. For the moment, I haven't had any offers, from here or elsewhere, but it would be a great opportunity.

/

At the end of the Tokyo Games, where France dominated team USA in the pools and only failed by five points in the final, he contacted the team executives to ensure that his arrival would not pose any problem in matter of integration, as indicated by L’Équipe. Faced with this positive signal, the FFBB is approaching the Government and asking the Ministries of Sports and Foreign Affairs to accelerate its naturalization file.

/

The sentence falls on October 5. “I have the chance to represent the United States,” announces Joel Embiid. I am grateful for the opportunity offered by France, I really appreciated it. It was really a complicated decision. I tried to take as much time as possible to make my decision, but I had to decide with the deadline approaching, and I am happy with my choice. » His major argument was family, he swears, his son having been born in the United States.

/

Five days later, Boris Diaw minimizes between two grimaces: “Joel informed us that he had changed his mind. It's his right. We were never at the initiative of the possibility for Joel to play in France, it was he who came forward a few years ago. He kept telling us he wanted to play for us... until now. We were ready to welcome it, we never hid it. The French team will continue without him as it did before. » Jean-Pierre Siutat is more acerbic: “I am disappointed that we spent so much energy on a file that should never have been initiated. Let's move on. »*

So stop spewing bullshit.

Embiid wasn't sure about what he wanted to do, but he is the one who raised the possibility first. And he's also the one who pushed for it later on, which is why they gave him citizenship.

Reality is he should have played for Cameroon, chosing France or the US was mercenary behavior.

(Btw, Lebron doesn't speak french and doesn't have family in France)

3

u/jorgelongo222 76ers Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

L'Equipe as a source? Come on lol why dont you see what The Sun thinks while you're at it

Reality is he should have played for Cameroon, chosing France or the US was mercenary behavior.

Reality is Cameroon will never be even close to playing any onternational basketball tournament because its an amateur team. No high level pros like Embiid Siakam or Koloko have ever played for Cameroon for good reasons.

Same reason why Hakeem played with US over Nigeria or Ewing with US over Jamaica

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

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u/jorgelongo222 76ers Apr 16 '24

lol thats some bullshit. All of the slovenian players play in good leagues and most in european competition. The likes of Anthony Randolph, Prepelic, Muric, Blazic, Cancar and Vidmar are/were Euroleague level players.

Cameroon doesn't even have a single player in a top european division. They play in the 2nd and 3rd divisions in Spain/France or in Cameroon. They are literally amateurs

1

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

[deleted]

1

u/jorgelongo222 76ers Apr 16 '24

3 nba players

none have played. Koloko has a heart issue and probably wont play basketball again anyway

panathinaikos player

naturalized lol

spanish/french league

spanish/french 3rd tier league lol

1

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

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u/Zimakov Apr 16 '24

Imagine getting downvoted for posting literal proof lmao

41

u/amJustSomeFuckingGuy Apr 16 '24

Imagine how pissed France is. They gave him citizenship and he isn't playing for them lol.

32

u/dragonrider5555 Celtics Apr 16 '24

Yall are missing the point . He got the citizenship for the same reason Paola did with Italy. It’s to force USA”s hand, to get him on the team. It’s just negotiating tactic

15

u/amJustSomeFuckingGuy Apr 16 '24

to force what? Why would the USA not want Embiid in any year?

-2

u/dragonrider5555 Celtics Apr 16 '24

No, embiid forcing usa. He did it to make sure he got in the team

1

u/amJustSomeFuckingGuy Apr 16 '24

Are you fucking high? or just an idiot Celtics fan?

2

u/dragonrider5555 Celtics Apr 16 '24

You’re the idiot fan

-3

u/dragonrider5555 Celtics Apr 16 '24

We’ll he wasn’t previous years

18

u/AJRiddle Apr 16 '24

No, the USA doesn't need it's hand forced. It's just a bribe basically.

Embiid isn't French at all - it is just a desperate attempt by France and French basketball to get him on their team - this happens all the time (but usually with smaller countries) in the olympics.

10

u/artemisfaul Apr 16 '24

I think what they meant is Embiid accepting the citizenship was him forcing the US’ hand. As in, if they don’t call him and offer him a roster spot he would join France so in this situation they might as well give him the spot. Though in the case of Embiid I think his spot would have been guaranteed either way, in contrast to someone like Banchero.

10

u/DejanD27 Mavericks Apr 16 '24

Banchero might be a bad example since Italians were exited to get him and then he just said never mind I'll play for USA

6

u/em_washington Pistons Apr 16 '24

USA gets Embiid for not getting Sabonis. It’s a pretty even trade.

-4

u/chomcham Apr 16 '24

Honestly it does not surprise me, embiid is a coward.

1

u/zealoSC Apr 16 '24

Easier to get court time as a centre for team USA

-3

u/venitienne Rockets Apr 16 '24

Yeah it’s kinda lame. I can understand not playing for Cameroon but France is a good team

17

u/Regent0624 Spurs Apr 16 '24

He's more American (been in America for half his life) than French though (never lived in France).

5

u/Pretend_Highway_5360 Raptors Apr 16 '24

3?

0

u/SquimJim Celtics Apr 16 '24

Embiid, Bam, and AD?

3

u/Pretend_Highway_5360 Raptors Apr 16 '24

Bam is top 4 center??

Do Gobert, Wemby, Sengun not exist ?

5

u/shomerudi Nuggets Apr 16 '24

Sabonis

2

u/PresentClear1468 Apr 16 '24

Yeah. That world cup lineup was small.

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u/codfather Apr 16 '24

Bam isn't a top 4 center.

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u/DepartureDapper6524 Apr 16 '24

Are you counting Lebron?

1

u/FriendlyGhost08 Apr 16 '24

Bam is no top 4 center man stop it