Joel Embiid made the decision to represent Team USA instead of France at this year’s Olympics, a choice that still bothers many French fans.
During Team USA’s Olympic debut against Serbia on Sunday, Embiid faced a chilly reception from the Paris audience, who booed him every time he had the ball.
Despite being granted naturalized citizenship by France in 2022, Embiid chose to play for Team USA. He was born in Cameroon and relocated to the United States at the age of 16, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen.
Last October, Embiid confirmed his decision to play for Team USA at the Paris Olympics in a Twitter post, expressing his pride and excitement. He noted the difficulty of the decision, but ultimately chose to honor his family and fans, especially his son born in the U.S.
Embiid also had the opportunity to play for Cameroon but the team was eliminated in the qualifiers.
For more on the amusing clips of FIBA refs ignoring Embiid’s foul-baiting, check out: Joel Embiid Roasted Over Hilarious Clips Of FIBA Refs Ignoring His Foul Baiting
