Joel Embiid began to wish of competing in the Olympics when he was growing up in his local Cameroon.
He did n’t know in what sports, at that time, he played soccer and tennis. Surely no sports, he said. Not until his household immigrated to the U. S. and he began to grow into the 7-foot, 280-pound person he is today.
He is currently a powerful force for the Philadelphia 76ers, an NBA MVP, and a part of the USA men’s basketball team, with all gaze on winning gold in the future Paris Olympics in May.
Wish realized. Desire attained.
” To think up, my father was an athlete”, Embiid said in an exam Sunday after Team USA’s exercise at the Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada-Las Vegas school. ” It’s amazing it turned out this way. I chose these people not because they’re so great, but because I felt welcome”.

And he did have other options after becoming a member in 2022. He may have played for Cameroon or France, which had previously held that Central American nation as a province. However, he came to the conclusion that Team USA was the ideal partner and would play alongside players like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and LeBron James. playing for manager Steve Kerr, who has won nine NBA championship rings and one Olympic gold medal in his playing and coaching career.
France, Team USA’s toughest opponent in the run for the gold in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics, was n’t even a consideration when Embiid was weighing his options.
” My home country of Cameroon, which I dearly love, we did n’t make it”, Embiid said. ” I’ve been in the U. S. for half of my career. I value this nation highly. I love my own country, but with my desire and all I’ve accomplished in this wonderful country, with my brother being an American, my family being around. This really made a lot of feeling”.
There was a time this year when it appeared as though Embiid may not be able to join the Olympic group. In February, he underwent surgery for a broken bubble and suffered a back injury to his left thigh. He did n’t return until April 2, having missed 29 games.
The wound took its toll, Embiid said upon resuming enjoy. ” It was depressing”, he said at the time.
The ability to play in the Olympics and the Sixers ‘ playoff run, which fell quick in the first round against the New York Knicks, were enough motivation for Embiid to force his healing and recovery. Yet while he was still up, Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said he expected Embiid to play in the Olympics, if good, and that he had the complete support of the business.
Embiid recovered from his psychological indifference and began to play again.
The inspiration was visible. The Olympics take place usually every four times. The 30-year-old, often-injured Embiid has eight NBA times behind him. Who knows how to prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 activities? The chance may never arise again.
Embiid is now taking advantage of this opportunity to play for one of the most brilliant men’s basketball teams in Olympic history. Embiid was n’t even born when the first U. S. Dream Team galloped through the 1992 Games.

But Embiid has his own targets. He’ll probably start for the men’s team, which has won 16 gold medals general and the last four. Playing for his own adopted land, he’s intent on adding to those colorful numbers.
” I’m just here for two points”, he said. ” Win the gold and know my desire, which I’ve always had, and get some part of the Olympian experience”.