If Joel Embiid has learned one thing during the Olympics, it’s that while the French might boo him, nothing can stop him from executing his signature crotch chop celebration. On Tuesday, Embiid and his American teammates demonstrated their resilience and dominance, orchestrating a masterclass performance in a 122-87 quarterfinal victory over Brazil.
With this win, Team USA is now just two games away from clinching a fifth consecutive gold medal. They are set to face Serbia in the semifinals on Thursday. Kevin Durant contributed 11 points, surpassing legend Lisa Leslie to become the highest-scoring American in Olympic history.
Embiid, unbothered by the jeers from fans still bitter about him choosing the U.S. over France, relished the opportunity to showcase his WWE-inspired celebration. Despite being fined $60,000 twice by the NBA for the move, Embiid didn’t hold back, even with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in the stands as a spectator.
“They might still find a way to fine me, but that felt good,” Embiid said with a grin. “It’s important to have fun because, at the end of the day, you need to take something positive from this experience.”
Team USA needed Embiid’s contributions against a formidable Brazilian front line. From the outset, he was a force, dominating the boards and displaying his versatile scoring abilities both inside and out. In just 12 electrifying minutes in the first half, Embiid racked up 14 points and seven rebounds, making 5 of 6 shots, including two three-pointers. The Brazilian defense had no answer for him, and the boos from the crowd only seemed to fuel his performance.
Although Embiid experienced a minor ankle twist and sat out the second half as a precaution, his impact was already felt. The game’s low-stress nature was a relief for Team USA, especially after witnessing upsets earlier in the day, including France’s surprise victory over Canada.
With Tuesday’s 35-point triumph, Team USA has won each of its first four games by at least 15 points, marking the first time since the 2008 Redeem Team that a U.S. men’s team has achieved such a feat, according to Stats and Information research.
Durant, who entered the game needing just five points to surpass Leslie as the U.S. Olympic scoring leader, finished with 494 career points. “Records are meant to be broken, so someone will come along and do the same to me,” Durant said. “My focus is on winning this gold.”
LeBron James led a brilliant display of teamwork and unselfish play, steadily building a case for Olympic MVP. James orchestrated the offense with precision, delivering an array of jaw-dropping passes that resulted in easy baskets for his teammates. One of the most memorable moments occurred just before halftime when James executed a no-look, half-court pass that threaded through the Brazilian defense and ended with a perfect alley-oop to Jayson Tatum.
“We had a play, but he just looked at me, so I knew he was doing the backdoor,” Tatum said. “That was a hell of a pass. He put it right on the money, so he made it easy for me.”
James’ performance was near-perfect, tallying nine assists and 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in just 12 minutes. The only hiccup came when Brazil’s Georginho De Paula accidentally caught James above the left eye, opening a cut that required four stitches. James is not expected to miss any additional time.
James’ leadership was infectious, as Team USA showcased perhaps its best ball movement of the summer, recording 18 assists on their first 19 baskets. “For a guy who truly is a point forward at heart, to be the leading scorer in NBA history when that’s kind of the secondary thing he does, it’s crazy,” Team USA Coach Steve Kerr said. “But that’s LeBron.”
Devin Booker, one of the team’s most consistent players, led the scoring with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Brazil’s effort was spearheaded by former NBA player Bruno Caboclo, who finished with 24 points.
When did Joel Embiid move to the US?
Embiid was found in a basketball camp by Luc Mbah a Moute, another Yaoundé native and NBA star. With Mbah a Moute as his mentor, Embiid came to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional basketball player.
Why did Embiid choose the USA?
Joel Embiid’s decision to move to the United States was primarily driven by his desire to pursue a career in basketball.
The United States offers unparalleled opportunities for young basketball players to develop their skills and showcase their talent on the global stage. The NBA, in particular, is the pinnacle of professional basketball, and it’s natural for aspiring players like Embiid to aim for that level of competition.
Additionally, the extensive basketball infrastructure and training facilities available in the US provide an ideal environment for players to hone their craft.
