Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has received a three-game suspension without pay for shoving Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes following the team’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
Embiid’s suspension will cover the next three games against the LA Clippers on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, and the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
The All-Star center is set to make his season debut the following Tuesday against the New York Knicks during Philadelphia’s first NBA Cup game.
The incident began after Hayes wrote a column referencing Embiid’s late brother and young son, both named Arthur, questioning Embiid’s dedication to professionalism and physical fitness.
Embiid confronted Hayes, saying: “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.”
Though Hayes later apologised and removed the controversial comments from his column, Embiid declined the apology.
The NBA has suspended Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid for three games for altercation shoving a columnist in a postgame locker room. pic.twitter.com/odkbFwuA0p
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 5, 2024
The exchange escalated, with Embiid shoving Hayes before the 76ers’ public relations team intervened.
A statement from the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said: “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.”
Embiid, who hasn’t yet played this season due to ongoing recovery from left knee surgery, will lose over a million dollars in pay during his suspension.
The team began their recent West Coast trip with a close 118-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns, marking Paul George’s first game with the Sixers.
