Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid hinted that he might be suiting up for a different country in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player is currently playing for Team USA in the ongoing 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, despite being born and raised in Cameroon and holding French citizenship.
Joel Embiid Might Play For Different Country In 2028 Olympics
Joel Embiid opened up about the experience of being in his first-ever international competition. He has previously never represented any country in FIBA events prior to the current Summer Games. He went on to praise his teammates as they are now only one win away from an Olympic gold medal. The most striking part of his statement was his openness to the possibility of playing for Cameroon in the future, per Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Joel Embiid on Olympics: “It’s been a good experience. It’s been a grind, being away from home and family for a few weeks. But the group of guys we have made it easy. Paris is a great city and the next one is LA. It might not be with Team USA, it might be with Cameroon.”
— Ron Kroichick (@ronkroichick) August 9, 2024
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The last sentence Embiid mentioned is particularly interesting, as he hinted at playing for his native African country in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Cameroon previously invited him to play in the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket in Congo, but he ultimately declined.
The seven-time NBA All-Star has faced controversy regarding his national allegiance for some time. In 2021, Embiid, then a Cameroonian citizen, wrote a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron. He expressed his wish to play for France and clarified his intention not to represent any other country.
The French government granted him citizenship in July 2022. Embiid was also able to acquire American citizenship in September of that year. By October 2023, the three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection decided to represent the United States of America. His desire to win a gold medal for his son, who was born in the U.S., motivated his choice. As a result of his stunning U-turn, the 7-foot center has faced a hostile reception from French home crowds during the ongoing Olympics.
Embiid Comes Alive In Olympic Semifinals Game vs Serbia
Despite the high expectations surrounding Embiid’s addition to the already star-studded Team USA Olympic squad, his journey hasn’t been entirely smooth. Head coach Steve Kerr benched the former Kansas Jayhawk in their second group stage game against South Sudan due to tactical reasons. The Warriors mentor explained that his decision was based on the need to match the speed of South Sudan.
The 30-year-old big man finally had his breakout game of the tournament in the semifinal against NBA rival Nikola Jokić and Serbia on August 8. The Americans trailed by as much as 17 points, and a colossal defeat seemed imminent. However, Embiid and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry overcame their respective slumps to lead the Americans to a thrilling 95-91 comeback victory at the Accor Arena in Paris. Embiid was the second-leading scorer for Team USA, contributing 19 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting. The two-time NBA scoring champion also added four rebounds, two assists, and one block in the crucial win.
Team USA is set to face host country France for the gold medal game on Saturday, August 10 at the Accor Arena in Paris. Expected to face intense jeering from the crowd, the former third-overall pick appears to be ready, as he has already prepared himself for the anticipated reaction.
“They boo me, I’m going to go back at them and tell them to suck it.”
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