FRANCE head coach Vincent Collet has ruled out reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid playing for Les bleus in this year’s Fiba Basketball World Cup, but hopes that he can be with the team in the future.
Collet said he is not expecting Embiid to play this year, but is still waiting his decision on whether he wants to suit up for France after the World Cup.
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“Not this year. We do not know. It's up to him to decide. We await his decision and we hope,” said Collet, referring to the World Cup, in an interview with Serbian newspaper Telegraf.
Born in Cameroon, Embiid acquired France and US citizenship last July and September, respectively.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently reported, however, that both countries have quietly made pitches to Embiid for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The news came after Victor Wembanyama made his decision that he won’t be suiting up for France when they play their Group H games in Indonesia against Canada, Latvia, and Lebanon.
Rudy Gobert, however, has already hinted that he will play for France in the World Cup, posting the Naismith Trophy in an Instagram story a day after Wembanyana announced that he won’t be in the World Cup.
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