Former NBA MVP Joel Embiid was notably absent from Group USA’s lineup in Wednesday’s 96-83 win over South Sudan, regardless of beginning the workforce’s first sport of the 2024 Paris Olympics and all 5 of its exhibition video games.
Embiid was changed by Anthony Davis within the beginning lineup, with reserve ahead Bam Adebayo additionally receiving extra minutes with the transfer. Each of the forwards had been excellent on Wednesday, with Davis scoring eight factors with eight rebounds and two blocks, whereas Adebayo led Group USA with 18 factors off the bench, together with seven rebounds two blocks and a steal.
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Embiid, who averaged an NBA-leading 33 factors per sport for the Philadelphia 76ers final season, was the lone participant to not seem for Group USA on Wednesday. The state of affairs was much like Sunday’s win over Serbia, which noticed Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum additionally fall out of the rotation earlier than returning towards South Sudan.
Group USA coach Steve Kerr stated Embiid was benched as a result of he needed to match up higher with South Sudan’s velocity, noting Embiid will return to the beginning lineup towards Puerto Rico on Friday.
With a loaded roster on the Olympics, an NBA star is certain to obtain restricted taking part in time from sport to sport.
This is how social media reacted to Embiid not taking part in towards South Sudan on Wednesday:
REQUIRED READING: Joel Embiid embraces controversy, offers trustworthy tackle LeBron James at Paris Olympics
Joel Embiid benched for Group USA at Olympics: Social media reacts
This is how social media reacted to Embiid being benched by Group USA in Wednesday’s win over South Sudan:
Enormous cheers for LeBron James as he leads U.S. gamers onto the courtroom for warmups. Massive boos moments later for Joel Embiid, who selected to play for U.S. over host nation France (and his native Cameroon). Embiid smiles and motions for crowd to get louder.
— Ron Kroichick (@ronkroichick) July 31, 2024
Steve Kerr benching Tatum and Embiid in again to again video games it’s like he’s making an attempt to feed NBA Twitter content material
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) July 31, 2024
Steve Kerr listening to the “Jayson Tatum must play” convo understanding he was about to take it to the subsequent stage and bench Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/9LaDUsA5Fd
— Complicated Sports activities (@ComplexSports) July 31, 2024
Joel Embiid benched as a result of Steve Kerr has a private vendetta towards Sketchers athletes
— Ben Detrick (@bdetrick) July 31, 2024
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