By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The senior national team of France featuring Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid in future major international competitions recently emerged as a possibility. Commenting on Embiid being granted French citizenship and thus becoming eligible to play for France in FIBA tournaments, Rudy Gobert gave his thumbs up.
“A player like Joel Embiid, there is only one in the world. So yes, at some point I would like to see him with the jersey of the France national team,” the Minnesota Timberwolves center told Le Journal du Dimanche, relays BeBasket, “At the end of the day, it will be up to the coach, he will decide. But nobody can really deny a player like him. Once he connects with the rest of the team, our chemistry, and style, and is ready to play in our team, he can be a very good weapon for us.”
Fellow French big man Moustapha Fall also approved the potential addition of Embiid in future tournaments. Le Bleus and national team selector Vincent Collet are currently approaching the first two games of the final round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers in late August and the 2022 EuroBasket in early September. The next offseason will be highlighted by the 2023 FIBA World Cup if France manages to punch in a ticket as one of the top three teams against Lithuania, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Hungary in Group K. Coming up next will be the Olympic Games with France slated to host the 2024 Games.