French basketball chief slams Joel Embiid for choosing to represent the USA, claiming it’s just ‘an easy way for him to get an Olympic medal’ in Paris this summer

Joel Embiid has been criticized by French national basketball team president Jean-Pierre Siutat for snubbing Les Bleus for the USA, calling the Sixers star’s decision ‘an easy way to get a medal.’

Embiid, who has lived in Philadelphia since 2014, is a USA citizen, and was also granted French citizenship via the naturalization process in 2022, with France believing that he would play for them in the 2024 Olympics.

But after Les Bleus underwent the ‘not easy’ process of securing Embiid (who was born in Cameroon) French citizenship, he flipped to the USA later that year – a decision Siutat is evidently still bitter at.

‘Team USA, with [Embiid], who can beat you? Come on, nobody,’ Siutat told The Athletic.

‘This is an easy way for him to get an Olympic medal.’ 

French Basketball Federation president Jean-Pierre Siutat criticized Embiid for snubbing Les Bleus

Embiid has not played since January 30 after undergoing meniscus surgery.

He’s played just 34 games this season.

As noted by CBS Sports, the center position is already well-stocked for the French, with both Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama expected to play this summer.

Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo would likely start for the USA if Embiid is not healthy by the summer.

With the NBA playoffs approaching next month and Embiid still sidelined, the Sixers are 38-31 and eighth in the Eastern Conference.