Embiid unfazed by boos from French fans: 'I'm an American'
Joel Embiid wasn't too bothered by the smattering of boos he received from the French crowd during Team USA's opening contest against Serbia.
"Nothing. Like I said, I'm an American. I play for Team USA," Embiid said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon.
Embiid drew the ire of French basketball fans after he committed to Team USA over France.
The Philadelphia 76ers center became eligible to play for the Stars and Stripes after obtaining his American citizenship two years ago. Embiid was also granted French citizenship just two months before.
Embiid, a Cameroon native, reportedly declared his intention to play internationally for Les Bleus, prompting the French basketball federation to go above and beyond to secure his citizenship.
"He said, yes, I want to (play), make the paper," French basketball president Jean-Pierre Siutat told Vardon earlier this year, in reference to the French passport. "So I make the job, with the help of the government, to get a passport for him and for his son. And all the time, he said, 'I want to play for the national team of France.'"
Embiid denied verbally committing to France.
The 2023 NBA MVP struggled in his Olympic debut, tallying four points, two turnovers, and three fouls in just 11 minutes.