Joel Embiid Will Play For Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers points against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For a while now, Joel Embiid has been at the center of an intense recruiting battle. 3 countries had equal claim to him for their Olympic Basketball rosters. France, Cameroon, and The United States. He was born in Cameroon and has both French and American Citizenship. But now he has made up his mind and will play for Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Joel Embiid did not play for any team in the 202 Summer Olympics when Team USA eventually went on to win Gold. But more recently they flamed out in the FIBA World Cup. And they have struggled overall to recruit the biggest stars in the NBA in recent years. But now the 2024 team is shaping up to be the best in years. Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry are already committed to playing for Team USA as well.
Joel Embiid will bring some much-needed size and defense to Team USA. At the FIBA World Cup Team USA gave up an average of 117 points over their last 4 games, 3 of which were losses. Even while winning gold in the 2020 Olympics, they lacked star power in the Paint. But the reigning MVP will surely bring that.
France, who took Silver in the last Olympics, was hoping Embiid would choose them. Now the host nation gets snubbed, just to see who would have been their best player to join their biggest competition. Team USA has the makings of a juggernaut now.
Here is a look at some of Embiid’s best performances last season:
11 Of Joel Embiid's Most Dominant Performances This Season
What Joel Embiid has been doing this year is hard to believe. 13 times he has scored 40 points. 5 times he has scored 50. It looks like he is finally going to win MVP. He certainly deserves it too. He is scoring at a rate we have never seen from a Center. This will be the 2nd straight season where he leads the NBA in scoring. All while anchoring a top-10 defense. Joel Embiid’s performance this season has truly been something to marvel at.
So before the playoffs start, and Embiid and the Sixers try to get past the 2nd round finally, let’s look back at what Embiid did this season. Because it is something worth appreciating. Whether it was him single-handedly beating the Celtics, setting a new career high in points, or having a block party vs the Grizzlies. Embiid has truly been the most dominant player in the NBA. He has at times made scoring 40 points look easy. After two unbelievable seasons, he continues to somehow improve.
But what performances stand out the most this season? We looked back and pulled 11 of his most impressive games this year. The times he took over on offense, defense, or perhaps both. There are of course a lot of games left out. Because Embiid is great and if we were going to put all of his good games, the list would be 70 items long.
Here are 11 of Joel Embiid’s Best Games This Season:
Andrew Salciunas, “The Choonis,” has done it all at the station - screening calls, working events as a member of the street team, producing 7 days a week, doing updates, and now hosting his own show. Now with a wife and kid, his life experiences are far different than when he first started, but this “regular guy” knows how to relate to anyone. He writes about the Flyers, Phillies, Sixers, and Eagles.