WHEREAS, Joel Embiid made Philadelphia and America proud by helping boost Team USA to a victory over France in the Men’s Basketball Final of the 2024 Olympic Games; and
WHEREAS, Embiid started playing basketball in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and was discovered by NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute at a basketball camp in the West African nation's capital. Subsequently, Embiid moved to Florida for high school and was recruited by the University of Kansas; and
WHEREAS, After one season of college, Embiid won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award. He set Kansas’s freshman records in blocked shots, field goal percentage, and rebounding average. He declared for the 2014 Draft and was the Philadelphia 76ers' third overall pick and has been a staple of the team since; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, he was named a starter in the NBA All-Star Game and helped Philadelphia to the playoffs for the first time in six years. Embiid was able to claim his first league MVP award in the 2022-23 season; and
WHEREAS, Embiid had the option to represent Cameroon, France, or the United States, but ultimately decided to represent Team USA in the Olympics to play alongside his fellow NBA players and honor his son, who was born in the US; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and congratulate Joel Embiid on his gold medal finish in the 2024 Olympic Games basketball final and for becoming the first player in Philadelphia 76ers franchise history to win a gold medal with Team USA.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Joel Embiid, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End