Coming off his best performance of the 2024 Paris Olympics, it was a tough day for Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.
The 30-year-old center and Team USA faced off against the home-countried France in a showdown for the gold medal. While the United States narrowly walked away victorious, 98-87, Embiid was outperformed by a fellow French phenom.
Former No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama is regarded by many as the greatest prospect since 2003. His unique mix of size at 7-foot-4 combined with the skills of a guard will make him one of, if not the most dominant, players in the NBA. It's clear fans won't have to wait long, as the San Antonio Spurs big man finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists on 11 of 19 shooting compared to Embiid's 4 points and 3 rebounds.
Still, Embiid accomplished the goal he arrived in Paris with: winning the gold medal for the birthplace of his three-year-old son. It's also important to note that the Spurs generational talent was one of the top offensive options while Embiid was one of many high-level scorers on the USA's roster.
USA coach Steve Kerr opted to roll with Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis in the closing minutes over Embiid.
This was far from the biggest storyline of the matchup, as Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry put on a clinic to put France away. He drilled multiple three-pointers in the final minute of play to end the game. Alternatively, superstar LeBron James was the victim of a posterizing dunk in the first half.
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