“People get fooled by the names,” Joel Embiid gives reality check to LeBron James fans ahead of Team USA Olympics run
Team USA's roster also includes younger players who can bring a fresh perspective and energy to the team.
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Joel Embiid and LeBron James
Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers star center, has tempered expectations about Team USA’s chances of winning the gold medal in men’s basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Despite being the odds-on favorite, Embiid believes that other teams have equal talent and that many of Team USA’s players are past their prime, including LeBron James.
Embiid in an interview with David Marchese of The New York Times pointed out that seven of Team USA’s 12 players are 30 years old or older, including himself, James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant. While LeBron James may not be as explosive as he was in his younger years, his basketball IQ and ability to elevate his teammates are still highly valuable assets.
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.Joel Embiid to David Marchese of the New York Times
However, Team USA’s roster also includes younger players like Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, and Bam Adebayo, who can bring a fresh perspective and energy to the team. Despite the challenges, Team USA has looked cohesive in exhibition play, with a 3-0 record heading into the Olympics.
France, Serbia, Canada, Australia, and Spain are among the teams that could give Team USA a run for their money. While a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal is not guaranteed, Team USA’s depth of talent is unmatched, and they remain the team to beat in Paris.
Joel Embiid opens up about decision to play for Team USA over France in Olympics
Joel Embiid has opened up about his decision to play for Team USA in the Olympics instead of France, calling it a “tough” decision that was made more difficult by France’s ultimatum. Embiid, who was born in Cameroon and has French citizenship, said his first choice would have been to play for Cameroon if they had qualified. He also expressed concerns about France’s relationship with Cameroon and other African countries, which he discussed with French President, Emmanuel Macron.
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.Joel Embiid to David Marchese of the New York Times:
The former NBA MVP then committed to play for the United States in October, citing his son’s birth in the country and his own 14-year residence in the US as primary reasons. However, the French Basketball Federation felt misled by Embiid’s earlier claims that he would play for France.
The Philadelphia 76ers star is now focused on helping Team USA win gold in the Olympics, which they are favored to do. The US will open group play against South Sudan on July 28, while France is in Group B and won’t face the Americans until the knockout stage if both teams advance.
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Ubong Archibong
(1284 Articles Published)