Embiid got into an altercation with a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist after the 76ers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended three games for shoving a member of the media, the NBA announced Tuesday.
The suspension will begin when Embiid is medically cleared to play, as he hasn’t appeared in a game yet this season because of injury.
Embiid got into an altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes after the 76ers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
On Oct. 23, Hayes wrote a column critical of Embiid when Philadelphia revealed that Embiid would not be ready to play at the start of the season. In the column, Hayes referred to Embiid’s son, Arthur, as well as his late brother, whom Arthur is named after.
Embiid took exception to the reference to his family members.
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“When I see people saying, ‘He doesn’t want to play’ — I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk, for people to be saying that. I do think it’s bulls—,” Embiid said in a press conference the Friday before he confronted Hayes. “That dude, he’s not here, Marcus, I’ve done way too much for this f—— city to be treated like this.”
Hayes removed the references to Embiid’s son and brother the same day his column was posted online, and tried to apologize to Embiid in the locker room Saturday, according to the Inquirer.
Embiid, per the Inquirer, told Hayes, “You’re gonna see what I’m gonna do to you, and I’m gonna have to [expletive] live with the consequences,” if the columnist wrote about his family again.
The 76ers are 1-5 in six games without Embiid so far this season. He was reportedly eyeing a return to the lineup as early as Wednesday, when Philadelphia will face the Los Angeles Clippers, but Embiid will now have to wait at least another three games to make his debut.
He hasn’t played yet due to what the team is calling “left knee management.” Embiid, who has had a history of knee injuries, underwent surgery on the meniscus in his left knee in February.
On Oct. 29, the NBA fined the 76ers $100,000 for public comments inconsistent with Embiid’s injury status.
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, the league’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, said in a statement. “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.”
