Embiid to play for US in Paris

MANILA, Philippines — Joel Embiid will wear red, white and blue in Paris next summer – not rouge, blanc and bleu.

The NBA’s reigning MVP and scoring champion has told USA Basketball that he has picked the Americans over France as his team for the Paris Olympics.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ star let USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill know his mind was made up and then made the decision public on Thursday.

“I’ve been here for such a long time,” Embiid said in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the 76ers are having training camp – and where Embiid met with Hill this week. “For the past few years, every decision I’ve made has been based on just family. My family, my son, and having the chance to represent a country like the US, with my son being born here ... I love my home country, but I really wanted to play in the Olympics.”