"Throwing game for his cousins": Gilbert Arenas levels bizarre accusation at Joel Embiid, mocks South Sudan’s financial situation

Team USA pulled out a 101-100 win over their newest international foes, South Sudan, in an exhibition match ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday. It was a remarkable feat for the South Sudanese, who have only been organized for around seven years, to go wire-to-wire with the No. 1 team in the world.

Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas saw the match and decided to go on a rant in response to his home country barely beating the young African squad. He directed his vitriol at Joel Embiid and the rest of the team, disgustingly suggesting Embiid helped to throw the game because of his own African descent.

“We almost lost to the ahi-ahi tribe," Gilbert Arenas said. "This is crazy. Man, Embiid over there god damn throwing the game. He throwing the game for his cousins and s***. We ain’t supposed to be losing to air up there."

He went on to mock the country about their equipment.

“They don’t even have shoes! They get their shoes from America," he continued. "We gotta ship them shoes. They don’t even have basketball rims, dog, they shooting on f***** peach baskets in dirt, no shoes.”

“We got the [TEAM USA] ... almost lost to some Africans,” Arenas added. "The king had to save us. I know the LeBron haters are mad."

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South Sudan stuns world in exhibition vs. Team USA

What Arenas fails to acknowledge is that South Sudan is, in fact, one of the best stories in sports over the last decade.

Former Chicago Bulls All-Star Luol Deng has put in a commendable amount of effort to launch an international program in a country that still doesn't have a single indoor basketball court. Deng already has ongoing initiatives and further plans that are going to change that.

Deng has paid out-of-pocket for plenty of the work required to put together a team for what is the world's newest country. He's had to hunt down players with South Sudanese blood and recruit the team in his role as the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation. They earned a spot in the Olympics after finishing as the top-ranked African team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

They're led by Carlik Jones, who is South Sudanese by blood through his mother. After going undrafted out of Louiseville in 2021, Jones began his professional career playing with the Texas Legends in the G League. He signed two 10-day contracts and a two way contract in the NBA but has since looked to sign with teams overseas.

Jones put up a triple-double against Team USA, finishing the 101-100 loss with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. They also received 4-6 shooting from three from Marial Shayok, a South Sudanase-Canadian pro who plays in China. Their team also includes former LA Laker forward Wenyen Gabriel, who now plays in Israel.

They defeated Great Britain 84-81 in their previous exhibition game this summer and lost to Argentina 81-72 in their first friendly match on July 15.

They will play their first match of the 2024 Paris Olympics against Puerto Rico on July 28. They're both in Group C along with Team USA and Serbia.