From an international basketball point of view, the past few months have not been kind to Joel Embiid. 

When Embiid made a commitment to Team USA, he got flak from all corners pretty much outside of the US, with most of the bitterness coming from Cameroon and 2024 Summer Olympics host France. One can’t blame them as Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon and took steps to being a naturalized player for the French. 

Things only got tougher from there, as the USA Basketball showcase revealed how Embiid was an awkward fit for an American squad that wanted to move the ball around and at a more frenetic pace. He continued to start for Team USA, but it felt like he was more of a token starter rather than the one setting the tone. 

Rock bottom perhaps came when the struggles spilled over to the Olympic tournament, where Embiid was benched against South Sudan. When he did play, the Philadelphia 76er received jeers from the crowd, especially when he had the ball. 

So far, Embiid’s slump has not derailed the Americans’ Olympic campaign as they remain undefeated and have the largest point differential among the 12 teams at +99. However, the medal rounds could expose the chinks in their armor and end Team USA’s reign as Olympic champions. So it was a good time for Embiid to make a statement. 

Playing for the Sixers has certainly made Embiid more comfortable playing in hostile environments and to his credit, he has been able to play through his struggles. It hasn’t been pretty for much of the tournament, but against Brazil, the 2023 NBA MVP showed what he could bring to the table. 

Aside from surrounding him with the right teammates, Embiid is a much better player in spurts. Steve Kerr can still deploy him as a starter, but he may opt to heavily involve Embiid in sets or put him in a spot where he will be open when his teammates are running the offense. It might be seen as the 7-time NBA All-Star taking breaks during possessions, but it’s better to position it as conserving his energy. After all, Embiid has shown the ability to knock down spot-up 3-pointers and in the right play, he can sneak in for an easy basket in the paint. 

The Americans’ next opponents will either pack the paint or deploy defenses that can stymie players that love to score inside so spreading the floor whether through Stephen Curry or Embiid’s shooting will be critical. 

All things considered, Joel Embiid may need to do more with Team USA to silence his doubters, but his performance in the Olympic quarterfinal against Brazil was a good place to start. The stakes will only get higher from here, but the victory over the Brazilians has given him confidence moving forward. And for a guy like Embiid, this newfound confidence should only amplify his strengths.