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Joel Embiid issues challenge to French fans before Olympic men’s basketball final
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    Joel Embiid issues challenge to French fans before Olympic men’s basketball final

    Step aside, Dillon (The Villain) Brooks.

    There’s another heel in international basketball.

    Centre Joel Embiid has been booed throughout the Olympics after choosing to play for the U.S. over host France or Cameroon in international play.

    It just so happens that the U.S. will face France in the gold-medal men’s game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT.

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    Embiid won’t be the most popular person in the arena

    “They’re going to boo me. I’m going to go back at them and tell them to suck it,” Embiid said with a smile Friday, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

    Embiid appeared to be egging on fans Thursday when he did a celebratory dance while walking off the court after the Americans’ 95-91 comeback win over Serbia in the semifinals.

    The Philadelphia 76ers star had 19 points on eight-of-11 shooting from the field.

    Embiid was born in Cameroon and granted French citizenship in 2022 even though he has never lived in France

    Embiid made the decision to represent the U.S. in October 2023.

    “I’ve been here for such a long time,” Embiid said after making the decision, per Reynolds. “For the past few years, every decision I’ve made has been based on just family. My family, my son, and having the chance to represent a country like the U.S., with my son being born here … I love my home country, but I really wanted to play in the Olympics.”

    Embiid played high school basketball in Florida and then went to Kansas for college.

    Embiid said France gave him an Oct. 10, 2023 deadline to make a decision.

    “I was trying to take my time as much as possible,” Embiid said after choosing the U.S. “It was kind of made hard by the deadline. But I’m happy with it.”

    France beat Germany 73-69 in the other semifinal after knocking off Canada in the quarterfinals.

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    Joel Embiid, the star center for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cameroonian national basketball team, has issued a challenge to French fans ahead of the Olympic men’s basketball final. The 7-foot-tall Embiid, known for his dominant play on the court and his charismatic personality off of it, is no stranger to making bold statements.

    In a recent interview, Embiid expressed his confidence in his team’s ability to come out on top in the final against France. He stated, “I know the French fans are passionate and will be cheering loudly for their team, but I want them to know that we are ready for the challenge. We have worked hard to get to this point and we are not going to let anything stand in our way.”

    Embiid’s challenge to French fans is not just about the game itself, but also about the spirit of competition and sportsmanship. He wants to show that he and his teammates are not afraid of any opponent and are willing to face any challenge head-on.

    The Olympic men’s basketball final is sure to be an intense and exciting matchup, with both teams vying for the gold medal. Embiid’s challenge to French fans adds an extra layer of excitement to the game, as fans on both sides will be eager to see which team comes out on top.

    As one of the most talented and charismatic players in the NBA, Joel Embiid’s words carry weight and his challenge to French fans is sure to fire up both teams and their supporters. It will be interesting to see how the French fans respond to Embiid’s challenge and how it affects the atmosphere at the final game.

    Regardless of the outcome, one thing is for certain – Joel Embiid and his Cameroonian teammates are ready to give it their all and leave everything on the court in pursuit of Olympic glory.