76ers News: Joel Embiid gets rude welcome at the 2024 Paris Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics officially commenced in Paris, and Team USA delegates were definitely headliners. The country paraded the most number of participants in the quadrennial stage with a total of 592 athletes, and among them were 12 of the biggest names in basketball, including Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.

A lot of eyes are on the US Men’s Basketball Team as it seeks another gold medal finish with its most star-studded roster in years, but it seems like a lot of watchers will also be rooting against them. While probably fair as the nation is the heavy favorite to snag first place, it’s also because Embiid made the decision to suit up for the country.

Alas, Paris is not a big fan.

76ers superstar Joel Embiid gets baptized with boos at the Paris Olympics

Embiid’s decision to pass up on suiting up for France and Cameroon was met with a lot of backlash. In fact, some folks from the host nation certainly made sure not to give the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player any “homecoming”.

Now, Paris isn’t exactly known as a haven of hospitality, and it definitely showed its reputation in this clip. First of all, France was the least convincing option for Embiid. He’s Cameroonian by blood, but has been in the US for almost half of his life. The French federation merely handed him a citizenship under an exceptional exception.

Luckily, it appears that Embiid is unfazed by his not-so-warm fáilte. During the Parade of Nations, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton poked fun at him, hilariously asking for his French passport back.

To add to the puzzlement, France already has one of, if not the strongest big man tandem in the tourney with San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert leading the way. An argument could be made that the US needed Embiid more.

Anyway, Joel Embiid will have the spotlight on him in his first-ever Olympics stint. Hopefully, he can help deliver that gold for the country.