Team USA center Joel Embiid (11) celebrates a basket in the final minutes against Serbia during a men’s semifinals basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
PARIS — It was Joel Embiid’s time to celebrate. And he savored every second.
One of two Team USA players left on the court following their 95-91 comeback victory over Serbia in the Paris Olympics men’s basketball semifinals, Embiid decided to dance.
He shuffled up the court, pumping his hands toward the sky while teammate Anthony Edwards looked on. Embiid then did four WWE-style crotch chops.
Embiid has dealt with heckles from French fans since he arrived in the country two weeks ago. It centers on his choice to suit up with Team USA in the Paris Olympics despite an opportunity to play for France.
That moment on the court Thursday night was his answer. It followed a signature game in which he responded to his critics by producing 19 points, four rebounds and a block to spearhead a furious U.S. rally that saw Embiid outshine Serbian star and NBA nemesis Nikola Jokic.
Afterward, though, Embiid insisted that advancing to Saturday’s gold-medal match against France, and not the criticism he’s faced thus far, was top of his mind.
READ: Joel Embiid embracing booing from French fans at Paris Olympics
“I don’t care. The job is to win the gold,” Embiid said. “I’m not going to sit here and say I don’t love France. I do love France. I have a lot of people here. … The banter against the fans, that’s love and respect.”
What is clear is that Thursday was one of the biggest moments of the 2022–23 NBA MVP’s basketball career. And it showed why the U.S wanted him on this team.
On a night when the U.S. started slowly, with only Stephen Curry able to find his shot initially, it was Embiid who stepped in to help keep his team within striking distance of a Serbian team that couldn’t seem to miss.
And when the U.S. did claw back into the game in the fourth quarter, it was Embiid who seemingly was involved in every big play. With the U.S. trailing by seven points with just over seven minutes left, Embiid connected on a short jumper to get his team within 82-77. He followed that up by banking in another shot, getting fouled and completing the three-point play to pull his team within 84-80.
The next U.S. possession ended with another Embiid bucket — this time a fadeaway over Jokic to reduce the margin to two.
Following a layup by LeBron James to tie and a dunk on the other end by Filip Petrusev, the deficit was again two. This time Embiid recognized Jokic was playing off him and used the space to set a screen for Curry, who rolled in his ninth 3 of the night to put the U.S. in front for good.
“He showed why he’s one of the greatest ever to touch a basketball,” Kevin Durant said. “He was finishing over the rim. Knocking down shots. Putting those guys in foul trouble. He was incredible.”
READ: Team USA beats Serbia, faces France for men’s basketball gold
Now the attention shifts to a matchup with host nation France and its 20-year-old star Victor Wembanyama, whom Embiid will almost certainly match up against at some point.
The U.S. has enjoyed raucous support through the tournament from a high number of American fans and international ones excited to cheer for NBA stars they usually only see on TV.
That atmosphere is expected to shift to a heavily partisan French crowd for Saturday night’s final at Bercy Arena.
For Team USA to earn its fifth straight gold medal, what would be Embiid’s first, it will have to do it in Wemby’s house.
It’s something Embiid prepared for. But he said it was never a desire to face them, even after the initial reception he received.
“I’m not sitting at my house like: ‘Oh my God, I want to play them. Oh my God, I hope it shakes out and ends up (against France) because it will be a beautiful ending and the fans are going to be going crazy. And then I’m going to enjoy all the boos’ — which I am going to,” Embiid said. “No, it’s all about one goal and that’s winning the gold. Whatever it takes.”