Joel Embiid is going to be out for multiple games following an incident with a reporter in the Philadelphia 76ers locker room.
Source: Steven Ferdman / Getty
The NBA star has received a three-game suspension after reportedly shoving a journalist who recently mentioned his late younger brother in an article.
Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes was pushed by the 76er in the team’s locker room following their 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, Nov. 2.
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations said in a statement on Tuesday, Nov. 5. “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,” Dumars’ statement continued.
The Inquirer reports that while moving from his locker toward Hayes, Embiid yelled his disapproval that Hayes mentioned his late brother and his son, both named Arthur. Hayes attempted to apologize to Embiid on Saturday but was “rebuffed before the confrontation turned physical.”
Embiid told Hayes he will “take all the shots” from the media about his basketball shortcomings or health, but that “nobody comes for my family.” He added that if Hayes wrote about those family members again, “you’re gonna see what I’m gonna do to you, and I’m gonna have to [expletive] live with the consequences.” Embiid also accused Hayes of making similar references in previous columns, which Hayes denied.
According to an NBA press release, Embiid’s suspension will begin with the next NBA regular-season game for which “he is eligible and able to play.”
The original Philadelphia Inquirer article, which was published on Oct. 23, was written about Embiid being sidelined for “left knee management,” per the NBA.
According to reports from PEOPLE, the write-up’s intro, which has since been deleted, read:
“Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er.”
The baller wasn’t the only one who had a negative response to the article, many readers also found the mention of Embiid’s late brother to be unnecessary. Not only that, the rest of the article criticized Embiid’s health and ability to “show up to work.”
Because of readers’ response to his article, Hayes removed the paragraph, going on to address the criticism on X.
“So, I rewrote the lede to my column and replaced the picture,” the journalist tweeted. “I can see why so many people were upset about it. Sorry about that. Thanks for all of the constructive criticism.”
