Joel Embiid hasn’t impressed fans through the first three games of Team USA’s exhibitions in preparation for the 2024 Olympics. Embiid has looked uncomfortable with the pace of the FIBA game as well as unfamiliar with the rules at times. As people speculated Embiid is still dealing with the knee injury that caused him to miss most of last season, Embiid confirmed to Fadeaway World that his knee is not the problem.
“My knee is doing great right now. Just getting back into it slowly. I can tell at the start but as the game goes on, I’m starting to find my groove. I just gotta keep building up. But I’m sure by the time we get to Paris it’ll be a different story.”
Joel Embiid on if his knee is hurting his adjustment into Team USA: "My knee is doing great right now… I can tell at the start but as the game goes on, I'm starting to find my groove. I just gotta keep building up. But I'm sure by the time we get to Paris it'll be a different… pic.twitter.com/RzXV9vS7fF
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) July 17, 2024
Embiid put up eight points and eight rebounds on two turnovers and 2-8 shooting from the field in USA’s 105-79 win over Nikola Jokic’s Serbia. He has been consistently outplayed by Anthony Davis throughout the pre-Olympic exhibitions, with even Bam Adebayo outshining him through the two games in Abu Dhabi.
Joel averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists last season, but played only 39 games due to a meniscus injury. He tried playing through general knee injuries last season which led to a torn meniscus. He rushed back from the injury to participate in the 2024 Playoffs but looked far from the MVP-caliber player we know him as in their first-round exit to the Knicks.
If Embiid’s knee isn’t the problem, maybe Team USA will be forced into lineup changes when an opponent actually troubles them. Embiid didn’t close the game against Australia due to a late run by the Boomers which almost led to the USA losing, which shows coach Steve Kerr will pull Embiid for Davis if the situation demands it.
Joel Embiid Will Not Be Benched
Fadeaway World asked Kerr about possibly benching Embiid after their game against Australia, to which Kerr diplomatically said they’re going to continue experimenting with the lineup.
“These next few games, I’m going to continue experimenting with the lineup. Joel is getting better and better every day. It usually takes big guys longer to get rhythm and flow. I love Joel, he’s a dominant player. I think it’s going to be important for us to figure out the best combinations.”
After the win over Serbia, Fadeaway World again questioned Kerr on his lineup decisions where he relented and confirmed that he expects Embiid, LeBron James, or Stephen Curry to be locked in as starters while the two spots around them will keep changing.
“Yeah, I like those three guys in the starting lineup. We’ve been looking at other guys around them and we obviously do have great options, but I like those three guys together.”
Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo have formed a fearsome bench tandem, so it seems Team USA is happy to have those two bigs clean up any of the holes left by a sluggish Embiid. Given the team is 3-0 with an underperforming Embiid, all their Olympic opponents should be worried about what could happen if Embiid actually finds his form in Paris.
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