Basketball Without Borders: Comparative Media Analysis of Joel Embiid’s Choice to Represent Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games

Abstract

Joel Embiid, the 2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player, born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, competed and won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics with Team USA. However, his decision to play for Team USA was not without controversy. Embiid also became a naturalized French citizen in 2022, meaning he could have played for the host nation at the Olympics. He also always had the option to compete for Cameroon, his country of birth. This article examined how media in Cameroon, the United States, and France framed Embiid’s naturalization and national identity. Although Embiid’s status as a native Cameroonian was highlighted across the three different national press samples, his decision to embrace his American citizenship for the Olympics was characterized as primarily athletically motivated. The media also focused on his connection to the U.S., noting his migration to America at 16 and his subsequent residence in the country as an NBA player. Additional implications related to his citizenship and national identity are discussed.