Joel Embiid has been booed throughout the 2024 Paris Olympics and he doesn't expect anything different when Team USA faces France in the gold medal game. Following the 95-91 win over Serbia in the semifinals, Embiid said the fans should expect to get something back from him during the game too.
"They're going to boo me. I'm going to go back at them and tell them to suck it."
Embiid did his now-trademark 'suck it' celebration to taunt the French fans after they booed him during that game against Serbia. You better believe he would do it again if Team USA beats France in the final.
All the booing, of course, stems from Embiid choosing to play for the U.S. over France and Cameroon. That decision didn't sit well at all with the French and they have made that very clear to him.
France fans told Embiid to give back his passport when he first arrived in Paris for the Olympics. The 30-year-old appears to have not been fazed by this hostile reception, though. I think that's partly because he is used to this by now.
While Philadelphia 76ers fans have a lot of love for Embiid, he certainly isn't a very popular figure among other fanbases. He was booed during the first-round series against the New York Knicks in the 2024 NBA Playoffs and that was far from the first he had gotten that reception on the road.
Embiid claimed he is the most hated guy in the NBA and he might well be. I don't see that changing anytime soon either, as he is quite the polarizing figure.
Joel Embiid Finally Delivered In The Game Against Serbia
While Embiid didn't seem bothered by all the boos, he hadn't played well at the Olympics in the lead-up to the clash against Serbia in the semifinals. Head coach Steve Kerr didn't even play the seven-time All-Star against South Sudan and I struggled to see him turning things around at the grand event.
Embiid proved me wrong, though, as he finally delivered when his team needed him the most. The big man had 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block against Serbia. He went a super efficient 8-11 from the field and was 2-3 from beyond the arc as well.
Team USA was down by as many as 17 points at one stage and it appeared as if a shocking upset was on the cards, but Embiid helped turn things around. He went toe to toe with Nikola Jokic down the stretch and I think it's fair to say that the U.S. wouldn't have won that game if he wasn't playing. Some wondered before the tournament if they even needed him and they sure did.
Embiid would be hoping to carry on the momentum from that game against Serbia and deliver in the final against France as well. It would also be rather poetic if after all the abuse he has gotten from the French fans, they'd have to watch him get that gold medal. I would imagine there wouldn't be too many sweeter feelings in the world for Embiid than that.
Related: Joel Embiid Could Leave Team USA To Play For Cameroon At 2028 Olympics
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