Retired NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas made quite an offensive comment regarding Team USA's narrow victory over South Sudan.
Within his remark was a jab at Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid. “This is crazy, man Embiid over there, throwing the game for his cousins and [expletive].” Arenas said this at one point in the video posted to TikTok.
Although the Sixers star never directly heard Arenas' comment, he shared his reaction to the rant in a recent interview.
"Obviously, I don't condone it," Embiid said. "I'm African first and foremost. I might be playing for Team USA, but you know I'm Cameroonian. I don't know exactly what was said, so I can't comment on it. If it was that negative, it's just disappointing because you see what African basketball has done for us to be in this position to make some sort of impact. Like I said, it's really unfortunate, especially in the world we live in now, with so much negativity."
I asked @usabasketball’s Cameroon-born 🇨🇲 star Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) about Gilbert Arena’s (@GilsArenaShow) recent disgusting and racist comments about Africans and African basketball players… @FECABASKET @FIBA @SSBFed pic.twitter.com/aBRZfXnxTi
— Δ¥Ω™ (@iam_Ayo) July 22, 2024
It's odd that Arenas grilled Embiid for his performance against South Sudan, as he recorded 14 points and 7 rebounds on 5 of 6 shooting. Though the exhibition matches prior to the one-point victory did not fare well for the 30-year-old.
He was the victim of serious criticism, but a new leaf is being turned as the USA enters the group stage.
