Could Joel Embiid leave Team USA to play for Cameroon in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles?
It would be fair to say that Team USA’s man in the middle has not been at his best in Paris. On the other hand, this may be the last we see of him.
There have been many questions surrounding Joel Embiid’s performance during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, however, one can’t deny that when Team USA needed him most, he delivered. Indeed, the 76ers’ star was a major part of the reason why the Americans are now in the gold medal game.
Joel Embiid suggests playing for Cameroon in 2028 Olympics
On Thursday evening, the United States faced a tough test when they took on Serbia in the semi finals of the men’s basketball tournament at the Olympics in Paris. Led by the NBA’s reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, the Serbians put in a more than solid performance such that by the fourth quarter, they were up by double digits. That’s where Joel Embiid truly stepped up, eventually inspiring Team USA to a narrow 95-91 win and with that, a place in the fold medal match. On the day, the 30-year-old notched 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting in 27 minutes of game time.
Yet, as much as Embiid may have silenced the critics with an excellent performance, he also appears to have given them much more fuel for the fire as he has now suggested it may be the last time he plays for Team USA, though not his last Olympic effort. Speaking Friday, Embiid opened up about his Olympic debut, while also addressing the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles and that’s where things got interesting. “It’s been a good experience,” Embiid said. “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 (Los Angeles). It might not be with Team USA, it might be with Cameroon.”
Now, when we consider the fact that his decision to play with Team USA rather than his home country of France or Cameroon caused controversy in the first place, one can imagine that these most recent comments have definitely raised eyebrows. Consider for a moment that Embiid has been consistently booed by French fans during the Games, though it must be said he has taken it all in stride. Regardless, the real question is of course whether he can simply switch sides.
The simple answer to that question is yes, but there is a caveat. As per reports, having now played for the United States in an international competition, Embiid would need a waiver from both Team USA and FIBA itself before he could be permitted to play for another country. To that end, it seems unlikely that it’s going to happen. That’s also before we touch on his extensive history of injuries which in tandem with the reality that he would be 34 when the games in LA roll around, doesn’t paint a positive picture. At any rate, it seems to us that the big man needs to focus on the task at hand before anything else, and by that we mean a gold medal game against France on Saturday.