Joel Embiid’s nationality has been a trending topic at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The NBA MVP is making his United States men’s national team debut, choosing America over other available options like France and Cameroon.
That decision has led to a lot of animosity from the countries he didn’t play for.
The French Federation of Basketball had several members speak out with anger toward Embiid’s decision. The Cameroon national team head coach expressed severe disappointment in the African native. The crowds in France have also been booing Embiid relentlessly.
Get to know more about the history behind Embiid’s nationality below.
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Where is Joel Embiid from?
Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and lived in Africa until he was 16. At that point, basketball brought him to the United States.
That is where his Cameroonian nationality comes in, giving him the option to represent his home country if he chooses.
Cameroon’s national team head coach Liz Mills was upset with Embiid when he chose the United States over his native land ahead of qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics.
“Imagine what impact he would have had if he had chosen Cameroon and how that what have reverberated right across Africa. It would mean so much more than helping the USA win another gold medal. Very disappointing decision,” she wrote on X.
Embiid hasn’t closed the door on a national team switch to Cameroon, though. Ahead of Team USA’s gold medal match, the star center hinted at the possibility for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“It’s been a grind, being away from home and family for a few weeks. But the group of guys we have made it easy. Paris is a great city and the next one is L.A. It might not be with Team USA; it might be with Cameroon,” he said.
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Joel Embiid’s ties to France
In July 2022, Embiid gained French citizenship with the intention of playing for the national team. He has never lived in France but speaks fluent French and has family in the country.
He reportedly told French Federation of Basketball officials that he “wanted to play for France” and “wanted to win with France,” according to former NBA player Boris Diaw, who is the general manager of France’s national team.
When he chose the United States over France, there was an aggressive backlash from the country’s basketball representatives.
Former France national team center Frederic Weis went as far as to say, “I would take away from him the French nationality and I would ban him from entering France [for the Olympics].”
Joel Embiid’s decision to choose Team USA
Embiid has lived in the United States since he was 16. He also had his first-born son in America.
When it came down to making a decision on which national team to play for, those two things were more prominent than any other factors.
“I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. 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. But 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,” Embiid wrote in a post on X.
I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. 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… pic.twitter.com/6VHSQTKVl3
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) October 5, 2023
Now, Embiid is one win away from his first-ever Olympic gold medal, and it’s only right that he’ll have to go through France to achieve that goal.
