NBA star Joel Embiid has suggested he could leave Team USA for Cameroon ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Philadelphia 76ers center decided to represent America at the Paris Games, which earned him boos from the fans in the French capital.
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Embiid, 30, chose Team USA over France and his native Cameroon after receiving American citizenship in 2022.
That same year, he became a French citizen, having previously expressed an interest in playing for Les Bleus.
But ahead of Saturday’s gold medal battle with the host nation, the 2023 NBA MVP said he might change team colors again.
“It’s been a good experience,” he said of the Olympic tournament, according to the San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ron Kroichick.
“It has been an arduous task being away from home and family for a few weeks.
“But the group of guys we created made it easier.
“Paris is a big city and the next one is Los Angeles. It might not be with the US team, it might be with Cameroon.”
The comments did not sit well with fans in America.
“Bro was really chasing the ring this year smh,” one posted on X.
“He is loyal to no one and everyone,” wrote another.
“Brother hates being an actor so much that he will play for a country that has no chance of winning,” said a third.
“Can you just switch teams like that?” someone wondered.
Explaining his decision to play for the US national team, Embiid recently said he has lived in the US since he was 16 – having spent the other half of his life in Cameroon.
“It seemed like yes, you could go two ways,” said the center ESPN.
Paris is a great city and the next one is LA. It might not be with Team USA, it might be with Cameroon
Joel Embiid
“I said it from the beginning, and everyone knew that if Cameroon qualified, it would never have been a choice.
“And then have the family [in America] and having built a lot of things and accomplished a lot of things in the U.S. and then getting to know the group of guys deeply, that made it easier.”
However, Embiid noted that the gold medal chances were a major factor in choosing his allegiance to the national team.
“I think a lot of people wanted [make it an issue] because of the storyline and all that stuff… but for me it’s whatever it takes to win the gold,” he said.
“So that’s what I’m focused on. It’s all about Team USA versus France.”
Embiid also addressed the booing he has heard in Paris since the start of the 2024 Games.
“They’re going to boo me,” he said.
“I’m going to go back to them and tell them to ‘suck it.’ And then it will be fun.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
