FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Team USA gained a big lift in the size and talent department when Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid committed to playing for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The big fella had three options: Cameroon and France were the others.
Embiid cited family as a reason for playing for America. His son was born here, and he has been in the country for so long. He will likely join a stacked roster that could feature LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and others.
New coach Nick Nurse has abundant experience coaching internationally, and he sees the benefits of Embiid playing for Team USA in the Olympics.
“I think it’s awesome,” Nurse said of the news. “I’m a big international. I’ve coached a lot of international basketball, and, obviously, he’s going in there in a great competition next year in a great city, but I think that just from my time of being with guys is, it’s usually really good leading into the next season.”
There have been plenty of times when a player goes to play in international competition and they come back with something new to their game. A player can be around other greats and it allows that player to grow and move forward. Embiid can be in the same boat.
“It really usually helps guys, right?” Nurse added. “Because it’s a little different style of great conditioning, high-level play, decision making all that stuff. I think it always helps guys going into the next season. So it’s awesome. Good for him.”
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