Philadelphia 76ers: A massive decision will soon await Joel Embiid

We may not yet be kicking the tired on the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season, but Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid already has a lot in his plate about basketball — but not the NBA variant.

The world has just witnessed a unique FIBA World Cup recently, but Embiid’s status for the next international affair in next year’s Summer Olympics is already a narrative monitored by fans and pundits alike. After all, the reigning Most Valuable Player could easily shift the tides toward whatever country he decides to show up for.

That’s exactly why one of Embiid’s aggressive suitors, France, bared the latest development on their pursuit of having the 76ers center suit up for Les Bleus. However, while nothing is set in stone yet, their program has apparently set a deadline that could preoccupy Embiid for the time being.

Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid has a massive decision awaiting him about his Olympics team

France, despite an utterly disappointing stint in the World Cup, remains one of the most formidable clubs in the international scene. With players such as Rudy Gobert, Victor Wembanyama, and other French NBA players leading the scene, adding Embiid to their core will only bolster their chances at maintaining, if not improving, the country’s silver medal finish in the previous iteration of the Olympics.

In fact, the president of the French basketball federation recently had this to say on a French radio station about whether Embiid has signaled a decision yet.

"It will happen very quickly in all cases. We hope so and I think he knows it. We may have an answer by October 10. We have set this deadline.We never communicated anything official about Joel Embiid. There was buzz created from everywhere, and I repeat that I want him to come. However, we made no communication about the fact that he was with us."

However, France is not the only suitor trying too Embiid. Team USA, which shockingly missed out on a podium finish, has already been garnering interest from the likes of LeBron James and Stephen Curry about participating in the Olympic games, and with that in account, Embiid could very well be interested in teaming up with his NBA compatriots.

In addition, Cameroon — Embiid’s birthplace — has already qualified for the Olympic qualifiers, and the reigning MVP could also find the prospect of representing his native country’s colors internationally and trying to lead them to an Olympic berth.

Clearly, the decision that Joel Embiid will make will have a lasting effect on how some teams will prepare for the Olympics. Hopefully, he comes to a resolution that will benefit him and his affiliation of choice better for the long-run.