Joel Embiid, the star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, has managed expectations regarding Team USA’s chances for gold in men’s basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Despite being favored to win, Embiid believes that other teams possess comparable talent and notes that many of Team USA’s players, including LeBron James, are past their peak.
In an interview with David Marchese of The New York Times, Embiid highlighted that seven of Team USA’s 12 players are 30 or older, including himself, James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant. While LeBron James may no longer be as physically dominant as he once was, his basketball IQ and ability to elevate his teammates remain significant assets.
Embiid remarked, “Everybody would also tell you, and you can see for yourself, the athletic LeBron, dominant that he was a couple of years ago, is not the same that he is now. I think people get fooled by the names on paper. But those names have been built throughout their career, and now they’re older. They’re not what they used to be.”
Team USA’s roster also features younger players such as Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, and Bam Adebayo, who bring fresh energy and a new perspective to the team. Despite the challenges, Team USA has demonstrated strong cohesion in exhibition play, maintaining a perfect 3-0 record as they head into the Olympics.
Countries like France, Serbia, Canada, Australia, and Spain are expected to pose significant challenges. Although a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal is not assured, Team USA’s unparalleled depth of talent keeps them as the team to beat in Paris.
Joel Embiid opens up about decision to play for Team USA over France in Olympics
Joel Embiid has shared the complexities behind his choice to represent Team USA in the Olympics rather than France, describing it as a “tough” decision made more challenging by France’s ultimatum. Although born in Cameroon and holding French citizenship, Embiid revealed that his initial preference would have been to play for Cameroon if they had qualified. He also voiced concerns about France’s relationship with Cameroon and other African nations, which he discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Embiid expressed, “Obviously, I got my home country, Cameroon, which I love, and the U.S., where I’ve been for 14 years now, and then France, where I have a lot of family. I kind of felt rushed in that decision. I wanted to take as much time as possible, and it didn’t help that France had put an ultimatum on when the decision had to be made.”
The former NBA MVP eventually decided to play for the United States in October, citing his son’s birth in the US and his own 14-year residence there as key reasons for his choice. This decision reportedly led to the French Basketball Federation feeling misled, as Embiid had previously suggested he might play for France.
Now, the Philadelphia 76ers star is focused on helping Team USA secure gold in the Olympics, where they are the favorites. The US will begin group play against South Sudan on July 28. France is in Group B and will only face the Americans in the knockout stage if both teams advance.