In a shocking admission to the media, basketball superstar Joel Embiid revealed why he ultimately chose to join Team USA instead of following through on his commitment to France. Embiid said that he wanted to be somewhere he felt wanted, implying that the French may have had some issues with his place on their team.
“It was a tough decision, but it is all about comfort level, and like I said, I’ve known these guys (Team USA players) for a long time and I just felt more comfortable than on the other side (France),” Embiid said, via The Atheltic’s Joe Vardon. “There was some concern with the other side… The comfort level was huge. I always say I’m going to be where I’m wanted and these guys wanted me.”
Joel Embiid, 30, has become one of the biggest stories of the summer. After a dominant season was cut short due to injury, many were surprised to see him participate in the games this year but this may be his last chance to win a gold medal while he’s still in his prime.
It’s no secret that Embiid initially planned to join Team France for the Olympics this year. He got his French citizenship and his own passport with intentions to suit up for the European nation. Instead, he backed out at the last minute to make a formal commitment with Team USA and fans have been giving him a hard time for it.
Last week, Embiid cited France’s relationship with Cameroon as the reason for his choice this summer, and he’s also claimed multiple to be a proud American citizen. But it seems like there might have also been some hesitation on the French side to finalize Embiid’s arrival.
With Victor Webanyama and Rudy Gobert already maintaining a sturdy presence in the frontcourt, it’s possible that France was uncertain how Embiid would fit with the players they already have. It’s also possible that they had concerns about his long history of injuries.
Regardless of the reasons, there’s no going back on the choice now. Embiid must live with his decisions and, so far, he doesn’t seem to have any regrets.
Joel Embiid Responds To Booing From French Crowd
In the eyes of the French, Embiid betrayed them and went back on his word by siding with Team USA, who was already heavily favored to win the gold. After going through all the trouble to get formal documentation from the country (including a passport) many people in France are holding a grudge against the former MVP that will not go away lightly.
Somehow, Embiid stands unaffected by the noise and he even played down the booing as no big deal in a recent chat with the media.
“I’ve seen worse,” said Embiid via EuroHoops. “Both Gardens [MSG and TD Garden]… [In Philly] they boo their own guys, more than their opponents. Sometimes it feels like our fans are more against us when they’re supposed to be against our opponent.”
As Joel cleverly pointed out, he’s no stranger to boos. He’s heard it in every voting arena and even in his own arena from unhappy Sixers fans watching an ugly moment on the court.
In this case, the French are clearly still angry with Embiid for abandoning their team and it will take some time for those wounds to heal. Joel has already heard it before and at this point, he’s unphased by whatever the crowd is saying.
Besides, winning the gold this summer will be all the validation that Embiid needs for his choice to join Team USA. Alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, the stars have aligned for Joel to be a winner in these Olympics and he’s not going to apologize to anyone for it.
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