Joel Embiid Faces Hostile Crowd in Olympic Final
Joel Embiid, recently a U.S. citizen, faces boos in the Olympic basketball match against France, where he could have played.
The Olympic basketball gold medal match in Paris, which will be held on Friday evening, is a high-stakes USA vs France clash, and Joel Embiid is at the center of the brewing storm. The Philadelphia 76ers star, who was born in Cameroon and became a U.S. citizen only recently, has elected to represent the national team at the Olympics, an incredibly controversial decision that resulted in boos from French fans. The player became a French citizen in 2022, and many assumed that he would play for the French in the Olympics. The athlete’s decision to wear the American flag on his jersey is due to the influence of legends like LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
While Team USA is vaunting its chances to win a fifth consecutive gold medal, the critics have not affected Embiid, looking to embrace the role of a villain and beat a crowd that would sorely need a win over him. The player’s position is sufficiently clear – it is all about winning the gold for the American team. Thus, the gold medal basketball match is expected not only to deliver the thrilling top-tier performance but also to evoke a gripping human drama, with Joel Embiid’s side facing a country he could have represented.
