- Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers has yet to play an NBA game this season as the team is managing his ailing knee.
- A Philadelphia reporter wrote an article referencing Embiid’s son and late brother, and Embiid confronted him in the team’s locker room.
- Embiid shoved the reporter, and will sit out the first three games when he is available to return to the court.
It has been an eventful start to the season for Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, despite not yet playing a game. Embiid is sidelined with an ailing knee injury so far.
On Saturday, November 2, Embiid took offense to a column written by Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Marcus Hayes. Embiid shoved Hayes while confronting him, and the NBA has levied a three-game suspension for the 2023 NBA MVP.
Embiid Takes Issue with Column That References Son and Late Brother
The suspension was handed down on Tuesday, November 5, says an ESPN report.
In a statement from Joe Dumars, the league’s executive vice president of basketball operations:
"Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA. 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."
Hayes wrote a column talking about Embiid’s absence and availability, but he also wrote:
"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. Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work."
Embiid took offense to Hayes invoking his son and late brother’s name in his article, and confronted him after the 76ers lost 124-107 to Memphis on Saturday, November 2. After yelling at him, Embiid shoved Hayes before he was escorted away by team representatives.
Hayes rewrote his column to omit the remarks Embiid was upset about, and he offered an apology on his X account, which has since been deleted. The 76ers have also offered an apology to Hayes from the team, although Embiid wasn’t a part of that.
What Will Embiid Lose During the Suspension?
Embiid will be suspended for three games, starting on Wednesday, November 6, with the Los Angeles Clippers. He’ll also miss Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Sunday’s meeting with the Charlotte Hornets. The 76ers’ star center will make his season debut against the New York Knicks, which will take place on Tuesday, November 12, in Philadelphia. It’ll also be the first NBA Cup tournament game for the Sixers, so you can bet on Embiid’s NBA player props in that game.
Embiid will also be docked $1,063,778 while he is suspended for three games. But now interactions between players and the media will be in an even bigger spotlight. Many media members think that Hayes crossed the line by talking about Embiid’s family, and that he could have made his point without doing so. Embiid’s availability is always going to be questioned. The 76ers were fined $100,000 for “misleading public statements” about Embiid’s health when they said he wouldn’t play both games in back-to-backs all season.
Now, we’ll have to wait and see what happens when Embiid returns next Tuesday, and what type of reception he’ll get from the Philadelphia crowd.
