Team USA coach Steve Kerr is backing Joel Embiid despite his struggles and here is why
The 2023 MVP has had a less-than-ideal start to life as a Team USA player ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, but his coach has made it clear he’s sticking with him.
While it’s clear that head coach Steve Kerr has a wealth of options at his disposal ahead of this Summer’s Olympic Games, one has to imagine that he wants to see all of Team USA’s players firing on all cylinders, especially those who are considered to be among the NBA’s best.
Steve Kerr is backing Joel Embiid regardless of his struggles
On Wednesday evening, Team USA continued its warm-up for the 2024 Olympics with a convincing 105-79 victory over Serbia. There were of course a few changes to the team that has won all three of its exhibition games so far, but Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid remained - unsurprisingly - in the starting five. Yet, it’s got to be said where Embiid is concerned, there have been some questions regarding the 76ers star’s performance or lack thereof. Indeed, the 30-year-old shot just 2 for 8 from the field while notching a total of eight points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Understandably, head coach Steve Kerr was asked about his big man’s recent struggles, and the Golden State Warriors coach, who has been tasked with bringing home a gold medal for his country, pushed back as he left no doubt as to how he intends to proceed with his starting five. “Yeah, I like those three guys in the starting lineup. We’ve been looking at other guys around them and we obviously have a lot of great options, but I do like those three guys in the lineup,” Kerr said.
As for Embiid himself, it should be said that Wednesday wasn’t all gloom and doom though there was in fact one play that turned heads when he came face to face with the man he is often compared to, Serbia’s Nikola Jokic the NBA’s reigning MVP. On the play in question, Embiid went for a layup while clearly trying to draw contact from the Serbian star assumedly with the hope of going to the line. Unfortunately, the referee was not convinced which led to a turnover. Nonetheless, it would be naive to think that Embiid won’t be a key part of Team USA’s efforts this summer and Kerr clearly knows that, which is why he’s standing by his man. Team USA will open its Olympic campaign on July 28th, in a game against the said same Serbia who they just defeated.