When Joel Embiid and Team USA arrived in Paris for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games, the Philadelphia 76ers star received a less-than-welcoming reception from some French fans. As Embiid disembarked from the train, a disgruntled fan loudly expressed his displeasure, saying:
“Give back your passport! You should have played for France. You’re not American.”
(Translated from French)
This hostile greeting stemmed from Embiid’s controversial decision to represent the United States over France in the Olympics. Despite initially considering playing for France and even holding French citizenship, Embiid ultimately chose Team USA. This decision did not sit well with many French fans and officials who had anticipated seeing the NBA MVP don their national colors.
Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, had the unique opportunity to play for Cameroon, France, or the USA. His choice was influenced by several factors, including his long-standing residence in the United States and the complicated political relationship between Cameroon and France.
Despite the backlash from French fans, Embiid is focused on helping Team USA secure another gold medal. Joining forces with superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Embiid aims to bring his dominant presence to the international stage. This will be his first time playing in the Olympics, adding to his impressive list of career achievements.
Team USA, considered one of the strongest contenders for the gold medal, will face Serbia in their opening game. The matchup between Embiid and Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, is highly anticipated. As the games approach, Embiid’s decision to play for the United States continues to be a topic of discussion, but his primary focus remains on winning and representing his team with pride.
Despite the criticism, Embiid remains unfazed and determined to excel. His ability to channel negativity into motivation has been a hallmark of his career, and he intends to use it to fuel his performance in Paris. As he continues to face scrutiny, Embiid’s resilience and commitment to his goals underscore his status as one of the NBA’s premier players.
Joel Embiid Explains Why He Chose Team USA Over France
In a recent edition of The New York Times’ ‘The Interview’ podcast, Joel Embiid explained why he chose to represent Team USA over France or Cameroon for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid, who had the option to play for any of the three countries due to his diverse background, ultimately decided to play for the United States.
“It means a lot. I’ve spent half of my life here. I’ve got a great family, great wife, my son, so it just made a lot of sense. I’ve been given the opportunity to be here and accomplish a lot.”
“I think of myself as from Cameroon. That’s always going to be home. I was born there, and from what I’ve seen growing up — the struggle — I’ll always identify with it. That’s one of the reasons I ended up succeeding: because of the way I was raised, the environment I was raised in. Nothing was ever comfortable.”
His connection to the United States, where he has built his career and personal life, played a crucial role in his decision. Despite his deep ties to the U.S., Embiid emphasized his enduring connection to Cameroon. His upbringing in Cameroon, characterized by adversity and resilience, remains a significant part of his identity.
“One thing that was always known was that Cameroon is the first choice, and if they qualify I’m playing for my home country.”
“I had the opportunity to talk to the French president about what was going on, and I told him one thing that was kind of bothering me a lot was the relationship between France and Cameroon and Africa’s countries in general.”
“There’s a lot of things going on over there. There’s a lot of pushback as far as basically kicking out the French because it’s been so many years of oppression. So that was my mindset.”
“I still got my family living in Cameroon, and I don’t want to put them through any of that stuff. I want them to be safe, and the relationship between France and Cameroon or Africa in general is just not good.”
Embiid acknowledged that the decision was challenging, given his ties to all three countries. He also mentioned a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron about the complex relationship between France and Cameroon. Embiid also expressed concern over the historical and ongoing tensions between France and African countries.
Ultimately, Embiid’s choice to play for Team USA reflects his personal and professional journey, balancing his deep roots in Cameroon with his life and career in the United States.
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