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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Prince J. Grimes

Joel Embiid’s Team USA debut went about as poorly as possible and basketball fans were unforgiving

It was a big win for the U.S. when Joel Embiid made the decision in April to play for Team USA over France or Cameroon for the 2024 Olympics. He gave the team a much-needed size boost to hold up against some of the bigger teams they’ll face in Paris.

That decision did not pay immediate dividends in his exhibition debut for Team USA, though.

Embiid fouled out in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against Canada after just 12 minutes on the floor. That includes an unsportsmanlike foul for elbowing Dwight Powell in the face. He finished with five points on 2-of-5 shooting with six rebounds, two assists and four turnovers.

The former MVP that he is, Embiid will almost certainly have better games to come. But that didn’t stop basketball fans on social media from ripping him for his struggles adjusting to international rules.

Social media reaction to Joel Embiid

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