USA basketball Olympic gold medalist Joel Embiid is set to receive the Commander of the Order of Valor honor from the Minister of Sports in Cameroon, under direct instructions from the Head of State.
Embiid, 30, who is of Cameroonian descent, has risen to prominence as one of the NBA’s top stars in recent years. After securing his first Olympic gold medal in Paris with the U.S. men’s basketball team, Embiid hinted that he might represent Cameroon in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, suggesting that his time with Team USA could be over.
In an interview with BleacherSport, Embiid said, “It’s been a grind, being away from home and family for a few weeks. But the group of guys we have made it easy. Paris is a great city, and the next one is L.A. It might not be with Team USA; it might be with Cameroon.”
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Cameroon is now poised to honor the 2023 NBA MVP with the title of Commander of the Order of Valor, a move seen as an effort to encourage Embiid to compete for his native country in future tournaments, including the 2028 Olympics.
Ahead of Cameroon’s 52nd National Unity Day, the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education released an official statement:
“The Minister of Sports and Physical Education has the honor to inform the public that he will preside over the award ceremony of the Commander of the Order of Valor medal, exceptionally awarded by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, as part of the 52nd National Unity Day, to Mr. Joel Hans Embiid, NBA Basketball player and gold medalist at the recent Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the American basketball team. This ceremony, which begins at 4 p.m., will take place in the conference room of the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education.”
However, this decision has sparked controversy among Cameroonian youth, who feel that Embiid prioritized representing the USA over his home country and should not be honored with such a prestigious national award.
Embiid was also booed at the 2024 Paris Olympics by French fans, as he had previously considered representing France before choosing to play for the USA.
Despite the backlash, Embiid appears unfazed by the controversy surrounding the award and his potential switch in nationality for the next Olympics. He remains focused on proving his worth on the basketball court and hopes to inspire the next generation of Cameroonian athletes in the years to come.
