Step apart, Dillon (The Villain) Brooks.
There’s one other heel in worldwide basketball.
Centre Joel Embiid has been booed all through the Olympics after selecting to play for the U.S. over host France or Cameroon in worldwide play.
It simply so occurs that the U.S. will face France within the gold-medal males’s recreation on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT.
Embiid gained’t be the most well-liked individual within the area
“They’re going to boo me. I’m going to return at them and inform them to suck it,” Embiid stated with a smile Friday, per Tim Reynolds of the Related Press.
Embiid seemed to be egging on followers Thursday when he did a celebratory dance whereas strolling off the court docket after the People’ 95-91 comeback win over Serbia within the semifinals.
The Philadelphia 76ers star had 19 factors on eight-of-11 capturing from the sector.
Embiid was born in Cameroon and granted French citizenship in 2022 regardless that he has by no means lived in France
Embiid made the choice to signify the U.S. in October 2023.
“I’ve been right here for such a very long time,” Embiid stated after making the choice, per Reynolds. “For the previous few years, each determination I’ve made has been primarily based on simply household. My household, my son, and having the possibility to signify a rustic just like the U.S., with my son being born right here … I really like my residence nation, however I actually wished to play within the Olympics.”
Embiid performed highschool basketball in Florida after which went to Kansas for school.
Embiid stated France gave him an Oct. 10, 2023 deadline to decide.
“I used to be attempting to take my time as a lot as doable,” Embiid stated after selecting the U.S. “It was type of made arduous by the deadline. However I’m pleased with it.”
France beat Germany 73-69 within the different semifinal after knocking off Canada within the quarterfinals.
