French Fans Lustily Boo Joel Embiid After Choosing to Play for U.S.
VILLENEUVE-D'ASCQ, France (AP) — The atmosphere was electric, but not in a way that Joel Embiid would have hoped. As the U.S. men's basketball team prepared for their Olympic opener against Serbia, the Philadelphia 76ers star found himself at the center of a storm of discontent from French fans. Embiid's decision to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics instead of France has not gone unnoticed, and the reaction from the crowd was nothing short of hostile.
From the moment Embiid stepped onto the court, the boos echoed through the arena. It didn’t matter if he was introduced, came off the bench, or simply touched the ball; the jeers followed him relentlessly. The French fans made it abundantly clear that they were displeased with his choice, and their disdain was palpable.
The root of this animosity lies in Embiid's decision to play for the U.S., despite having been granted naturalized citizenship by France in 2022. Although he has never lived in France, many fans had hoped he would join forces with rising stars like Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert to represent the host nation in the Olympics. The prospect of a formidable French team was tantalizing, and Embiid's absence was a bitter pill to swallow.
While he had the option to play for Cameroon, his country of birth, that opportunity was cut short when Cameroon failed to qualify for the Olympics. This left Embiid with the choice of representing the U.S., a decision he made after receiving a U.S. passport in 2022. He has previously mentioned that his desire to play for Team USA was influenced by the birth of his son in the United States, but he has never elaborated on why he ultimately chose the U.S. over France.
For the French fans, however, none of these explanations mattered. The disappointment was evident as they expressed their feelings through a chorus of boos, making it clear that Embiid's choice had not only disappointed them but had also ignited a sense of betrayal. As the game unfolded, the tension in the arena was a stark reminder of the emotional stakes involved in international sports and the deep connections fans have with their national teams.
As the Olympics continue, it remains to be seen how Embiid will navigate this charged atmosphere. For now, he must focus on his performance while contending with the vocal disapproval of a nation that once embraced him.