Victor Wembanyama et Joel Embiid

Thanks to Stephen Curry’s 36 points, Team USA managed to reach the final against France. An important meeting for Joel Embiid, who spoke about this very special reunion.

And the pivot is clearly looking forward to it.

Trailing for almost the entire game, Steve Kerr’s men managed to qualify for the final this Thursday against Serbia. Nikola Jokic and his teammates were not far from the feat (91-95 defeat), but the stars of Team USA shone in this game.

This is the case of Steph Curry with 36 points, he who scored 14 points in 3 minutes in the first quarter.

Without this monumental hot streak from the Chef, Team USA probably would not be in the grand final today. He saved Steve Kerr (again) like in Golden State, but he was not the only one.

Even Joel Embiid scored some valuable baskets in the final, he who knew how to raise his voice at the best of times. The final promises to be special for him.

Joel Embiid honest before meeting the Blues
Facing a hostile crowd, Embiid will return to France this Saturday to try to win the gold medal.

It promises to be a great atmosphere even if the person concerned assures us: the priority is to win. He spoke to the media, via L’Equipe:

Joel Embiid: “I don’t worry about it.

The mission is to win gold. I’m not going to say that I don’t like France, I do, I know a lot of people here, I spent time here. It will be a nice match.

The relationship with the fans is love and respect (smile). I don’t think there’s anything negative. »

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Embiid is also the first to be wary of this game, especially since the Blues made changes to their starting five.

“The French team is a great team, they made a lot of changes to their five. (Isaïa) Cordinier came in and is playing extremely well.

We will have to follow the game plan that our staff is going to put in place.

But if we do what we have to do: get stops and run in transition, we will have a great chance of winning.”

Nevertheless, Embiid is convinced that Team USA will finish with a gold medal around its neck at the end.

The Sixers pivot is ready to do anything for that, he who is not afraid of France before this big meeting.

“I love France, but it doesn’t scare me.

I wasn’t at home thinking ‘oh my God, I want to play France, I hope it ends like that because it would be a magnificent ending, that the fans would be crazy, that I would be able to enjoy their whistles’, which I will still do in the finals (smile).

There is only one goal: to win the gold medal, no matter what it costs.”

Joel Embiid remains confident before the final, aware that Team USA dominates the competition at the moment.

But France showed another side and with its public, even Steve Kerr’s men are wary. It promises a great atmosphere on Saturday.