LeBron James opens up on fans heckling Joel Embiid at 2024 Paris Olympics

LeBron James has backed Joel Embiid amid the hate the Team USA center has gotten from fans at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid's decision to play for the USA over France last summer got him into this chaos. The Philadelphia 76ers big man has been booed and heckled ever since the Americans landed in Paris, and that has carried onto the court, too.

However, Embiid has James and the USA's support amid this rough stretch.

"We are all on Jo’s [Joel's] side ... Jo’s in great spirits, we’re all in great spirits, and as his 11 teammates, we just give him the support that he needs both on the floor and off the floor if needed," James said on Saturday (via The Athletic).

Not much has gone Embiid's way throughout the campaign. He has struggled with the USA since his first game during the pre-Olympic Showcase games. That has continued at the Olympics. Embiid also got benched in the second game against South Sudan.

In his two outings, Embiid has managed 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, shooting 42.1%. His activity on defense has been alarming at times, while his offensive game isn't meshing well with Steve Kerr's five-out motion offense.

Nevertheless, the team has continued to place their faith in the 2023 NBA MVP, sticking with Joel Embiid as the starting center over Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo for the foreseeable future.

Joel Embiid cites the reason behind choosing the USA over France

Joel Embiid's reason for choosing the USA was based on his familiarity with the players. He wasn't 'comfortable' representing France because of this.

“It was a tough decision, but it is all about comfort level, and like I said, I’ve known these guys (Team USA players) for a long time and I just felt more comfortable than on the other side (France),” Embiid said on Saturday (via The Athletic).

Embiid was also pressured heavily by multiple French Basketball executives to join the team from the USA after helping him obtain a passport so he could play for the team. France's President Emmanuel Macron also called to convince the Sixers star.

French team players questioned letting an outsider like Embiid play for the team as he wasn't born in France. Additionally, Embiid would've been the third starting-caliber big man on the team next to Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, making their fit questionable.

In that context, Team USA was a better opportunity, along with Joel Embiid, having a good relationship with most players after spending over a decade in the country.