Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid did not play in Team USA’s 103-86 win over South Sudan at the 2024 Olympics on July 31. Embiid had started every game for the Americans thus far, making his absence a notable surprise.

It is unclear whether the coaching staff decided to rest the former NBA MVP or if he was benched due to the criticism he’s faced so far, but his non-participation was likely a strategic decision. South Sudan’s athleticism and ability to drag Embiid out of the perimeter may have been a factor in the decision.

Joel Embiid was booed by fans before the game, as has been the case throughout the Olympics due to his decision to play for Team USA instead of France. Embiid’s absence may have been a one-game hiatus, as he is likely to see action in Team USA’s final group play game against Puerto Rico on Saturday (August 3). The Americans will look to fine-tune their lineup and strategy ahead of the quarterfinals, and Embiid’s presence will be important in those efforts.

On Wednesday, Joel Embiid, the former NBA MVP, was surprisingly absent from Team USA’s lineup in their win over South Sudan at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid had started every game for the Americans so far but was replaced by Anthony Davis in the starting lineup, with Bam Adebayo also receiving more minutes.

Fans on social media had this to say about it:

Both Davis and Adebayo excelled in Embiid’s absence, with Davis contributing eight points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, and Adebayo leading Team USA with 18 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and a steal off the bench. Embiid, who averaged an NBA-leading 33 points per game last season, was the only player not to appear for Team USA in the game.

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