Joel Embiid sets surprising 76ers record after Team USA wins gold

Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid won his first Olympic gold medal after Team USA outplayed host country France in a pretty neck-and-neck battle. He didn’t see the court much during the the Finals, but he did redeem himself in the last few games after a disastrous start to his first-ever stint as an Olympian.

While the legendary triumvirate of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant stole the show for the Americans, Embiid was also instrumental in USA’s campaign in Paris. He even managed to outscore Nikola Jokic en route to co-spearheading a thrilling comeback win over Serbia in the semifinals.

But in addition to his personal win and the team’s glory, Embiid also managed to carve for himself a pretty memorable place in 76ers franchise history.

Joel Embiid sets surprising 76ers record in Paris

Following USA continuing its reign as the Olympic Champions in Men’s Basketball, Embiid became the first active 76er to ever win gold with the national team. PHLY Sports’ Derek Bodner first caught wind of the surprising record.

Notable players who played for Philly and went on to win gold in the Summer Games include Jrue Holiday, a two-time gold medalist, and Andre Iguodala, who was part fo the 2012 team that dominated the tournament. During those times, Holiday has long left the 76ers while Iguodala was shortly traded to the Nuggets during his Olympics appearance.

Circling back, Embiid was easily the most despised name in all of Paris, but he managed to get the last laugh. And as you might have expected, the French crowd was still showering him with boos as he received his gold medal,

Joel Embiid has been shattering records left and right for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA, but this time, he’s doing it on the Olympic stage. No matter what happens with his future with Team USA, he has already etched himself in the history books for the franchise.