Joel Embiid on facing Nikola Jokic in the Olympics: “I don’t care”

Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are the most dominant basketball centers of this era. They have shared a budding rivalry to this point, each winning NBA MVP awards in recent seasons.

However, when it comes to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Embiid isn’t concerned with Jokic. When asked about his upcoming matchup against Serbia and Nikola Jokic, Embiid stated his focus is on building chemistry with Team USA, per Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

“I don’t care about Jokić. I’m playing for my national team,” Embiid said. “It’s all about focusing on ourselves and trying to make sure everybody’s on the same page. When we get there, we’ve got to know what we got to focus on. Right now, it’s just about finding ways to get better every single day.”

I asked Team USA’s Joel Embiid if he was looking forward to facing Serbia’s Nikola Jokic in the first game of Olympics pool play. “I don’t care about Jokic,”
Embiid said. His focus is not on #Nuggets star and fellow MVP but Team USA. pic.twitter.com/7OV0Fbe6pM

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) July 8, 2024

Not the question I would have asked in that situation, but to each their own. Jokic should be glad he’s off the hook, considering Embiid dropped a combined 88 points the last two times they’ve played.

Joel Embiid will play for Team USA for the first time in his career, although his decision to wear the red, white, and blue has been controversial. The 76ers star is eligible to compete for Cameroon (his home country), France, and the United States, where he gained citizenship in 2022.

Embiid chose Team USA so he could win a gold medal for his son.

“I want to play for my fans because they’ve been incredible since the day I came here,” Embiid said in his post committing to play for Team USA. “But most of all, I want to honor my son, who was born in the US. I want my boy to know I played my first Olympics for him.”

Embiid joins a star-studded roster featuring fellow NBA stars LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Edwards, and others.

The United States is seeking its fifth consecutive gold medal and has won 16 gold medals total at the Olympics. Group play gets underway on Sunday, July 28, where Team USA will face Serbia.

Starpower.

🇺🇸 #USABMNT 🤝 USA Select Team pic.twitter.com/Jolm4du5hI

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 9, 2024

Mandatory Credit: Team USA