By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
LILLE, France – For one more game in the 2024 Olympics, USA center Joel Embiid was booed by the French crowd.
In the last possession of the Team USA win over Puerto Rico, Embiid had the ball in his hands and when he heard the booing from the fans he actually made a gesture to them to boo even louder.
“I’ve always loved it,” Embiid said. “At the end of the day, I think a lot of people think it’s hate. I see it as love and respect. If I wasn’t an OK basketball player, I would not receive that type of treatment. So I see myself as being blessed, and that’s why I interact with them. I interact with that type of crowd and that type of stuff because, like I said, I’m blessed to be here. And I’ve seen worse. I’ve played in worse environments. Both Gardens (Madison Square Garden of the New York Knicks and TD Garden of the Boston Celtics). So it’s nothing that I haven’t seen before.”
When asked if that’s something that also Philadelphia 76ers fans do, Embiid answered that the situation can be even worse there as Philly supporters may boo the home team.
“They boo their own guys, more than their opponents,” Embiid said. “Sometimes it feels like our fans are more against us when they’re supposed to be against our opponent. But like I said, it’s all love. It’s all because they want to push you. They want you to do better. Just like with this crowd. I enjoy it because it makes me want to be better and do more and do whatever it takes to win.”
Embiid also addressed the national team decision he made, choosing the USA over his native Cameroon and France.
“It was a tough decision, but it was all about comfort level,” Embiid mentioned. “And like I said, I’ve known these guys for a long time, and I just felt more comfortable than knowing the other side. There was some concern with the other side. So like I said, comfort level was huge. I always said, you know, I’m going to be one of one. I want it. And this guy is one of them.”
Photo credit: FIBA