2024 Paris Olympics
Joel Embiid showed off his gold medal to French fans.
The U.S. won 98-87 in the men's basketball final at the 2024 Paris Olympics against France at the Versi Arena in Paris, France, on the 11th, winning five consecutive games.
The Dream Team, which is composed mainly of LeBron James + Kevin Durant + Stephan Curry, landed in Paris with much attention. And they won the gold medal they targeted.
The moment the U.S. players stood at the podium to receive the gold medal, Embiid received the most attention from fans who visited the Versi Arena, not James, Curry, and Durant. The moment Embiid won the gold medal, he was booed fiercely by French fans.
Embiid smiled. And he bragged about his gold medal to the fullest. The U.S. players at the podium with him smiled broadly and shouted "USA! USA! USA!" Even Tyreece Haliburton shouted "DX Chop" in advance. Fortunately, Embiid did not have the DX Chop ceremony.
Embiid's relationship with France, or bad relationship, runs deep. The bad relationship started two years ago when Embiid chose the "Dream Team," who seemed likely to play in the same uniform as the French players.
Embiid was born in Cameroon and moved to the United States before reaching adulthood to become one of the best players in the NBA. He then acquired French citizenship in July 2022.
At that time, Embiid even sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron. The whole of France, including Coach Bang Sang-Cole and Evan Ponier, welcomed Embiid's joining.
However, Embiid's choice was the U.S. In September 2022, after much consideration, he became a member of the "Dream Team" and was booed a lot by French fans.
Of course, it was clear why Embiid chose the U.S. over France. He wanted to be with the best players in the U.S. and to announce that he participated in the first Olympics for his son born in the U.S. Even so, angry French fans booed him hard.
Ahead of the final match against France, Embiid said, "I want to have fun. They (French fans) will keep booing me. I'll go back to them and say 'suck it'. It sounds fun."
Embiid's mention of "Eat X" is also linked to the ceremony he enjoys. Embiid showed off his DX Chop ceremony (also called "suck it ceremony") at the Paris Olympics, which can be a bit insulting depending on the opponent. He also paid 35,000 dollars in fine for doing the ceremony in the NBA.
Even Ron Croix of the "San Francisco Chronicle" reported on his SNS that Embiid could represent Cameroon at the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics.
Embiid said, "Paris is a great city. And next (Olympics) is L.A. We can be with Cameroon, not the U.S.."
"Cameroon has always been the first for me. If Cameroon qualifies for the Olympics, I want to play for my home country," Embiid told The New York Times in the past.
Theoretically, it is not impossible. Embiid already participated in the Paris Olympics on behalf of the U.S., but it is also possible to represent another country with a passport in accordance with the FIBA rule that emphasizes "development of basketball." Several conditions are added to the process, but the story is not completely unrealistic. Cameroon is highly unlikely to participate in the LA Olympics.
The problem is that Embiid turned away from France, referring to Cameroon after the United States. It can be seen as an interview purely thinking of Cameroon, but not considering the current situation. 안전놀이터
The bad relationship between Embiid and France is expected to continue until and not until the end of the men's basketball at the Paris Olympics. France hates Embiid to the extent that it is worried that he will be able to return to the U.S. safely.