Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is ready to live out a long-held dream. The newly minted American citizen recently expressed his excitement about representing Team USA at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
The French national team was an option for Embiid, who is a dual US and Cameroon citizen. However, ultimately, he chose to join Team USA. Even Embiid expects to hear a lot of boos from French fans but remains confident in his choice. He has already begun training with Team USA, which shows that he is ready and willing to do what it takes.
The power forward of the Philadelphia 76ers isn’t worried about French fans booing him during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Rather, he’s thrilled about the opportunity and ready to soak up the knowledge that comes with performing alongside world-class players. In a recent video, he said,” It means so much. It’s been a dream for a long time. It’s an electric group of guys, especially with such great players and the type of talent that you have. It’s fun to be a part of.”
He said about the team’s environment, “I’m just enjoying it. I play against them, so I feel like I know a lot about them, but I’m just being around them and learning how to play with each other.”
Why Joel Embiid Choose USA Basketball Team Over France
Picking a team for the Olympics was tough for the 30-year-old NBA star. Due to his dual citizenship, Embiid had the option to play for France, but he ultimately felt a deep connection with the USA. Embiid has been living in America for a long time, and his son was also born there.
Last October, the 30-year-old posted about his decision on social media. He noted, “I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home.“
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He further added, “After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve been incredible since the day I came here. Most of all, I want to honor my son, who was born in the US. I want my boy to know I played my first Olympics for him.”
With him, the Team USA got a star-studded line-up including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and the sharpshooting Steph Curry. So, they will surely go all the way for the gold this time.
