When Joel Embiid decided to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, not everyone was happy. Apart from the fact that his origin is from Cameroon, the player also holds French citizenship. According to a widely reported story, Embiid had sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron back in 2021, promising him that he would align with France. As a result, his mere appearance at the ongoing Olympic Games for the USA was met with boos and jeers from the majority of the French crowd. However, the 30-year-old, now, may chart a course that will have him face the same treatment in 2028 again, this time at the hands of Americans. Sounds odd? Let’s dive deep.

A shocking remark made by Embiid recently came to the fore, thanks to the San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ron Kroichick. The next Olympics will be in LA, which will allow the 76ers’ center to play in front of his loved ones, but a possible change in allegiance might complicate things for him. “Paris is a great city and the next one is LA. It might not be with Team USA, it might be with Cameroon,” said Embiid, to the utter shock of the USA fans.

Amidst all the criticism that has been directed at him for playing for Team USA, Embiid might have been influenced to take his skills to Cameroon, the nation of his birth. But while his heart might be in the right place, the timing of the decision isn’t. With the 2028 Olympics set to take place in America itself, suddenly switching teams and abandoning the US roster would not make the player popular amongst the majority of the fans who will watch the games live.

Joel Embiid had a clear reason for why he wanted to play for Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics. It did not have anything to do with being in a better position to win an Olympic medal. It was about what the US meant to him and his family. After all, despite him being from Cameroon and his wife being from Brazil, Embiid’s son was born in America. Furthermore, Embiid has devoted over a decade of his life to the NBA, playing alongside and against some of the best that the world of basketball has to offer.

“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 said, explaining his decision to play for the USA in the Olympics.

However, if Embiid wanted to make a case for himself to consistently feature for Team USA, his recent performances certainly did not help. Although he put on a fabulous performance in the semi-final matchup against Serbia, scoring 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, going 8-11 with his field goals, 2-3 with his three-pointers, and 1-1 with his free throws, it was just a one-off.

Judging Embiid’s overall performance throughout the Olympic Games, the USA fans won’t complain if he is replaced by someone else going ahead. This feeling was recently resonated by a former NBA player as well.

Sam Mitchell feels that Joel Embiid does not appreciate the opportunity handed to him

Before his stint against Serbia, Joel Embiid was starting to get on the nerves of some basketball enthusiasts. After all, during the previous four matchups, he was excluded from one and averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in the rest. Furthermore, his overall demeanor gave the impression to former Minnesota Timberwolves star Sam Mitchell that he was just not taking things seriously.

In a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, the player-turned-analyst went all out on Embiid, stating “He chose the US. To show up out of shape, and disinterested. It makes me wonder, one, why did we go through heaven and earth…To woo him to come play for us, the US team, right? We put on a full-court press to convince Joel (Embiid) to play for the United States, his adopted home country, now, and this is what we get.”

The 60-year-old further emphasized that Embiid seemed to have traveled to Paris “out of shape.” Having spent over 17 years as a professional player himself, Mitchell presumed that it meant Embiid had no intention of bringing out his best.

Mitchell’s remarks come only a few days after another player-turned-analyst, Charles Barkley’s criticism of Embiid. In a conversation with Paul Geroge, the Philadelphia 76ers legend stated, “I hope this is a wake-up (call) for Joel, this Olympic experience. He has not played well and I’m hoping he’s like, ‘Yo man, I gotta get in better shape.”

Given how star players like Jaylen Brown and Kyrie Irving were excluded from the prestigious 2024 Olympic roster, Mitchell and Barkley may believe that Embiid’s addition was simply a mistake.

Would you support Joel Embiid’s decision to play for Cameroon instead of Team USA? Let us know in the comments down below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.