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First Look at Joel Embiid With Team USA Ahead of 2024 Olympics

Joel Embiid has officially linked with Team USA.

Justin Grasso

January 31, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins (0) and guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 31, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins (0) and guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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The 2024 Paris Olympics are around the corner, and the USA Men’s Basketball team is gearing up for their run this summer starting with a training camp out in Las Vegas.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid arrived to join the team for the first time on Friday night.

The Sixers’ superstar is gearing up for his first olympic run just one year after being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.

Embiid Links With Steph Curry

Kevin Durant, Tyrese Haliburton, and Embiid

Embiid’s path to the Olympics could’ve gone in several directions. As he obtained citizenship in two countries last summer, the Sixers’ big man had three options: Play for Cameroon, France, or the USA.

As expected, all three teams made a pitch to convince Embiid to join them. For quite some time, it seemed Embiid was on pace to join France, but he committed to USA during 76ers training camp last offseason.

The MVP-winning center was officially named a member of the roster months ago, joining many NBA stars, including Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Steph Curry, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Jayson Tatum.

Team USA will kick off the process with a set of exhibition games beginning on July 10 in Vegas. They’ll take on Canada, Australia, Serbia, South Sudan, and Germany for friendly matchups.

The Olympics officially begin for Embiid on July 28, when USA faces Serbia.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA  Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation.  Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association.  Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA

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