Joel Embiid opted to play for Staff USA over France at this 12 months’s Olympics and plenty of French followers are nonetheless upset about it.
Embiid acquired a frosty reception from the Paris crowd in Staff USA’s Olympic opener towards Serbia on Sunday, with the followers booing him each time he touched the ball.
Embiid had the choice to play for France after the nation granted him naturalized citizenship standing in 2022, regardless of by no means residing there.
The Philadelphia 76ers star was born in Cameroon and moved to the US when he was 16 years outdated. He has since change into a U.S. citizen.
“I’m actually proud and enthusiastic about this determination,” Embiid wrote on Twitter final October in a put up confirming he would play for Staff USA on the Paris Olympics. “It was not simple. I’m blessed to name Cameroon, France, and the USA residence. After speaking to my household, I knew it needed to be Staff USA.
“I wish to play with my brothers within the league. I wish to play for my followers as a result of they’ve been unbelievable for the reason that day I got here right here. However most of all, I wish to honor my son who was born within the US. I would like my boy to know I performed my first Olympics for him.”
Embiid additionally had the choice of taking part in for Cameroon however the group was eradicated early within the qualifiers.
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