Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was suspended by the NBA on Tuesday for three games without pay for shoving a member of the media.
Embiid’s suspension will commence with the next regular-season game for which he is eligible and able to play. The 2023 NBA MVP has yet to play this season due to what the 76ers have described as left knee management.
The Sixers are set to begin a road trip in Los Angeles against the Clippers on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred in the locker room Saturday night when Embiid shouted at and subsequently shoved a newspaper columnist. “Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” league executive Joe Dumars said in a statement announcing the suspension. “While we understand Joel was offended by the personal nature of the original version of the reporter’s column, interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical.”
Embiid was upset with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who had mentioned the seven-time All-Star’s late brother and his son—both named Arthur—in columns questioning Embiid’s professionalism and effort, citing concerns about his fitness following his participation in the Paris Olympics.
Following a 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, reporters entered the locker room to speak with players, at which point the two-time NBA scoring champion confronted Hayes.
“The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to … live with the consequences,” Embiid said to Hayes.
Embiid continued, using several profanities in subsequent sentences. Hayes offered an apology, which Embiid dismissed. “That’s not the f——— first time,” Embiid added.
Hayes countered by saying Embiid apparently does care what reporters write.
Embiid appeared to grow louder, and shortly thereafter shoved Hayes on the shoulder as the team’s public relations chief intervened. Another PR representative relocated Tyrese Maxey’s interview to the hallway outside the locker room in an effort to clear the area.
Embiid was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft but missed his first two full seasons due to injuries. Since his first full season in 2016, he has played in 433 of a possible 805 regular-season games and only 59 of 67 possible playoff games.
