In a surprising moment, the Denver Nuggets coach made comments about Joel Embiid’s nationality that left many people scratching their heads. Embiid was born on March 16, 1994, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
He was discovered by former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute at a youth basketball camp in Cameroon and later moved to the United States to chase his basketball dreams. In September 2022, Embiid became a U.S. citizen, adding to his Cameroonian and French nationalities.
During a talk about the international game and the Olympics, Michael Malone, the Nuggets coach, said, “We all know that the international game has grown so much in the last decade when you have guys like Nikola [Jokic] and Luka [Doncic] and Giannis [Antetokounmpo]… And I don’t know what country Joel Embiid’s gonna [play for]—I mean, that’s kind of a weird one…”
These comments have led to much discussion, leaving many confused. One commenter said, “I don’t even know what he means by this”
Another person said, “so his comment on the growth of the NBA was only a comment about Joel Embiid?”
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One more person wrote, “What does this quote have to do with the “growth of the international game” lol”
The NBA’s international growth has been notable, with a rise in global players boosting its global presence. Late Commissioner David Stern and FIBA Secretary-General Boris Stankovic have been instrumental in promoting the game abroad since the 1980s, hosting exhibition games and sending professional players, including the iconic Dream Team, to the 1992 Olympics.
Joel Embiid And The Global Rise Of Talent In Today’s NBA
Fast forward to today, the presence of international talent in the NBA is clear. In fact, international players outnumbered Americans on the All-NBA First Team for the first time in 2021. Additionally, new stars like Josh Giddey from Australia, Franz Wagner from Germany, and Benedict Mathurin from Canada show how international talent is growing in the league.
The Cameroon native averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 2023-24, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only player in NBA history to post at least 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists over a 39-game span. He also tallied 1,353 points in 1,309 minutes, matching Chamberlain’s feat of averaging at least one point per minute.
In international play for the 2024 Olympic Games, he played five games for the USA, averaging 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He shot 57.7% from two-point range and 54.5% from three-point range, achieving a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 10.8.
Recently, Joel Embiid shared his thoughts on his experience in the 2024 Olympics. He said, “I finally won something. I finally got to the Conference Finals and won something, so that was fun.“
Throughout his career, Embiid has played 433 games, averaging 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. His career shooting percentages stand at 50.4% from the field, 34.1% from three-point range, and 82.6% from the free-throw line.
