Watch: Joel Embiid gets French crowd to boo him after Team USA win, dishes out 'suck it' celebrations soon after

The French made clear their animosity toward Joel Embiid before the Olympics started. When “The Process” decided to snub France to play for Team USA, he was relentlessly trolled on social media. The vitriol has ramped up in intensity now that he is competing in the quadrennial games with his fellow NBA superstars.

Embiid helped the Americans to an exhilarating 17-point comeback victory against Serbia in the semifinals on Thursday. Team USA’s 95-91 win earned them a ticket to the gold-medal game against no less than the host team. The former MVP soaked up the atmosphere after the win versus the Serbs even when the fans passionately booed him.

This is what Joel Embiid did as he walked off the Bercy Arena in Paris:

“The Process” has been egging fans on to keep booing and whistling at him. He seems to be having fun in the midst of the French fans’ hostility to him. The “suck it” celebration, which Anthony Edwards also mimicked, was his way of trolling back his critics.

Embiid played 27 minutes in the win against Serbia and contributed 19 points, four rebounds and two assists. He played much better in the rematch against Nikola Jokic. “The Process” was on the floor late in the game to close out the Serbs.

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The home crowd’s hostility at Joel Embiid will be even more intense in the gold medal game

Joel Embiid has been underwhelming in the Olympics before putting up a decent game against the Serbians in the semi-finals. Despite his so-so performances, Team USA’s embarrassing depth allowed it to overwhelm opponents. The stacked American roster leaned on LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis and Steph Curry to coast to the semifinals.

France, though, didn’t look ready to challenge for a podium finish. They had trouble executing on both ends of the floor despite an excellent roster anchored by Victor Wembanyama. It wasn’t until the quarter-finals against Canada that the French showed they might be legit gold-medal contenders.

The win by Les Bleus against Germany in the semi-finals grabbed the attention of basketball fans. Wembanyama and Co. got their revenge and earned the right to face the juggernaut Americans. The French can’t wait to see Joel Embiid line up across their national team.

If Embiid found the fans hostile in the competition, the intensity of that animosity would only increase in the gold-medal showdown. Expect “The Process” to dish out his “suck it” celebration if Team USA wins the gold medal at the expense of the hosts.