Cameroonian-American, Joel Embiid has revealed that he believes he is “probably the most hated guy in the NBA.”
Embiid, who stars for the Philadelphia 76ers, shared this sentiment during an appearance on The Check Ball Show. “I don’t know why, ’cause I’m just cool. I don’t know what’s there to hate about me. I feel like a lot of people can relate to my story and what I’ve been through.”
There is much to admire about Embiid. He battled chronic foot injuries that sidelined him for his first two seasons after being selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Despite playing just 31 games in his third season, he has become one of the league’s top players. Embiid also played a crucial role in turning around a struggling 76ers team, leading them to the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons.
However, Embiid is also one of the league’s more outspoken players and has done his fair share of trash-talking. Some view him as one of the NBA’s biggest floppers, which could contribute to the perceived animosity. Moreover, NBA discourse often focuses on championships, and Embiid’s 76ers have yet to advance past the second round of the playoffs. While the playoff failures are rarely his fault, some fans will likely hold this against him until he wins a title.
Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to military officer Thomas Embiid and his wife, Christine. He played volleyball and soccer in his childhood and originally planned to play professional volleyball in Europe. However, he started playing basketball at age 15, modeling his game after Nigerian-American NBA Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.
Embiid is eligible to compete for the national teams of Cameroon, France, and the United States. On February 7, 2017, Embiid was named to the preliminary team to compete in the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket in the Republic of Congo, with the group qualifier taking place in March, during the NBA regular season. Fellow Cameroon-born NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute has voiced his opinion on Embiid representing his country, saying, “It would be great for our team, our country, and Joel.” However, Embiid ultimately did not compete for Cameroon at AfroBasket 2017.
Perhaps he can change the narrative this upcoming season, especially with the 76ers adding Paul George in the offseason. For now, though, his focus is on helping Team USA win a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. Embiid committed to playing for the 2024 US Olympic Team in Paris, stating that he wanted to win a gold medal for his son, who was born in the U.S.
“After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve been incredible since the day I came here. But most of all, I want to honor my son, who was born in the US. I want my boy to know I played my first Olympics for him.”
