With the Olympics coming up, all eyes will be on Team USA to see how they will fare against other participating teams. But for Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, though, he’ll be getting a lot of heat from the French crowd after snubbing their national team for the Dream Team.
Before he entered the league in 2014 as the Philadelphia 76ers’ top pick that year, Embiid first made an impact in his native country of Cameroon. From there, the All-Star center joined Kansas’ college program and captured the attention of NBA scouts.
After one year playing college basketball, Philly selected him using the third overall pick. Unfortunately, Embiid missed the first two years of his career due to an injured foot. He would play his first official NBA game in 2016, but continued to struggle against various injuries.
Last year, Embiid experienced the pinnacle of his career when he won MVP while leading the 76ers to a playoff spot. During that campaign, the Process averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. However, Embiid would only reach the second round of the playoffs, only to be eliminated by Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in seven games.
Frederic Weis Says Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid Must Be Banner in France After Huge Snub
A couple of years ago, Embiid reportedly committed to play for France, as seen in a letter he wrote to French President Emmanuel Marcon. However, the Sixers All-Star changed his mind and decided to play for Team USA instead.
This move garnered a lot of heat amongst the French. Frederic Weis, a former basketball star for France, claimed that Embiid must be banned from the country for going against his word. In an article posted on Eurohoops:
“I consider this boy a great player as much as he is a dirty guy. I hate him for the things that he did. I think he doesn’t have any respect for France and also for all the people who are asking for a French passport and don’t get it. And under the pretext that he is a great athlete, he got it. I find it scandalous, I find it embarrassing. I don’t care about his excuses, cause they are his words, and his words mean nothing,” Weis said.
For his part, Weis has played in the Olympics as part of the French national team in 2000. In that same year, NBA legend Vince Carter dunked on him in a match between the United States and France.
For sure, Embiid is going to be one of the main attractions later this year when Team USA begins its quest to win the gold in the Olympics. Without a doubt, the Sixers’ big man is going to attract a lot of heat as soon as he arrives in France.
More must-reads: