Joel Embiid's nationality has been a trending topic at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The NBA MVP is making his United States men's national team debut, choosing America over other available options like France and Cameroon.

That decision has led to a lot of animosity from the countries he didn't play for.

The French Federation of Basketball had several members speak out with anger toward Embiid's decision. The Cameroon national team head coach expressed severe disappointment in the African native. The crowds in France have also been booing Embiid relentlessly.

Get to know more about the history behind Embiid's nationality below.

Embiid's National Team History

Embiid was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and lived in Africa until he was 16. At that point, basketball brought him to the United States.

That is where his Cameroonian nationality comes in, giving him the option to represent his home country if he chooses.

Cameroon's national team head coach Liz Mills was upset with Embiid when he chose the United States over his native land ahead of qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics.

"Imagine what impact he would have had if he had chosen Cameroon and how that what have reverberated right across Africa. It would mean so much more than helping the USA win another gold medal. Very disappointing decision," she wrote on X.

Embiid hasn't closed the door on a national team switch to Cameroon, though. Ahead of Team USA's gold medal match, the star center hinted at the possibility for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"It's been a grind, being away from home and family for a few weeks. But the group of guys we have made it easy. Paris is a great city and the next one is L.A. It might not be with Team USA; it might be with Cameroon," he said.

Why Embiid Chose the United States over France

In July 2022, Embiid gained French citizenship with the intention of playing for the national team. He has never lived in France but speaks fluent French and has family in the country.

He reportedly told French Federation of Basketball officials that he "wanted to play for France" and "wanted to win with France," according to former NBA player Boris Diaw, who is the general manager of France's national team.

When he chose the United States over France, there was an aggressive backlash from the country's basketball representatives.

Former France national team center Frederic Weis went as far as to say, "I would take away from him the French nationality and I would ban him from entering France [for the Olympics]."

Embiid has lived in the United States since he was 16. He also had his first-born son in America.

When it came down to making a decision on which national team to play for, those two things were more prominent than any other factors.

"I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve been incredible since the day I came here. But most of all, I want to honor my son who was born in the US. I want my boy to know I played my first Olympics for him," Embiid wrote in a post on X.

I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve… pic.twitter.com/6VHSQTKVl3

Now, Embiid is one win away from his first-ever Olympic gold medal, and it's only right that he'll have to go through France to achieve that goal.

Could Embiid Actually Switch to Cameroon?

Embiid's decision to play for Team USA means switching teams in 2028 is not a simple matter. Under FIBA regulations, a player who has already represented one country in a senior men's tournament would require waivers from both USA Basketball and FIBA to play for another nation.

That's likely why Klay Thompson, a former Team USA player, was unable to play for the Bahamas this year despite training with the team. The Bahamas, however, didn't qualify for the Olympics, so the situation didn't reach its full potential.

If Embiid does want to play for Cameroon, he would also have to sit out the 2027 FIBA World Cup to be eligible. So, it's a big decision with a lot of hoops to jump through.

Ultimately, whether or not Embiid can switch teams in 2028 is still up in the air. But his statement has undoubtedly added intrigue to the future of international basketball. Even if Embiid doesn't play for Cameroon, his potential switch might be a sign of things to come for the game.

What's Next for Embiid and Team USA?

For now, Embiid's focus remains on winning gold in Paris. He'll face his former team, France, in the gold medal game. This will be a crucial moment for Embiid, as he looks to end the Olympics on a high note and further solidify his legacy as a global star.

Beyond that, it'll be interesting to see how his nationality saga unfolds. His decision to represent Cameroon in 2028 is still a long way off, but it's clear that Embiid is leaving options open for the future. The NBA's most entertaining player is ready to take on the world, and we'll be watching closely to see where he lands next.

Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.