Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was honored by Cameroon even if he didn’t play for the national basketball team, as he received the Medal of Commander of the Order of Valor on Wednesday.
The Medal of Commander of the Order of Valor is an honor given to Cameroonians who have made “exceptional contributions in the fields of arts, science, agriculture, commerce, or industry,” and Embiid was awarded after he won his first gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The 30-year-old Philadelphia 76ers star was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, and spent most of his childhood there before moving to the USA at 16. Joel Embiid has given back to his home country over the years through his Arthur Embiid & Angels Foundation, named after his late brother.
Joel Embiid was a big reason Team USA won their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. His best game of the tournament was when he dropped 19 points, four rebounds, and two assists on 8-for-11 shooting from the field against Serbia in the 95-91 semifinal win.
Joel Embiid looks to bounce back for the Philadelphia 76ers
After winning his first NBA MVP in 2022-23, Joel Embiid had a rough campaign in 2023-24 since he was hobbled by injuries, causing him to miss 43 regular season games.
The Philadelphia 76ers big averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game in the regular season. Embiid returned to the postseason, averaging 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Unfortunately for the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks eliminated them in the first round, meaning they still haven’t made it to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2001.
