The NBA has suspended Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid for three games without pay. push a journalist during a post-match altercation Saturday evening, the league announced Tuesday.
“Mutual respect is paramount in player-media relations in the NBA,” said Joe Dumars, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations. “While we understand that Joel was offended by the personal nature of the reporter’s original version of the column, the interaction must remain professional on both sides and can never become physical.”
Following the 76ers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center, Embiid confronted Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Embiid was bothered by a recent column Hayes had written about the forward’s injury issues — a column that received widespread criticism for referencing Embiid’s son and late brother.
PHLY’s Kyle Neubeck later provided a recap during his company’s post-game show.
“The second Joel realized he was there, he launched into a verbal exchange. Obviously, we can’t repeat many of the words spoken on this show. The bottom line was, “You can say I’m bad, you can say whatever you want about me as a player. » Never put the name of my deceased brother in your mouth. Don’t talk about my family. Don’t involve them in this. You want to talk to me like a man and talk to me about basketball, that’s different, but if you ever talk about my family again, we’ll have real problems.
“They go back and forth a little bit and at some point, say 90 seconds to two minutes into this back and forth, Joel pushes him. Team security intervenes. The players circle in sort of the situation and everyone kind of disperses.”
Hayes’ column was written in reaction to Embiid not being ready for the season, with the Sixers citing a left knee issue. The Sixers were later fined $100,000 for their public statements about Embiid’s health..
Hayes Chief’s Column:
“Joel Embiid constantly points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, tragically died in an automobile accident while Embiid was in his first year as a 76er.
“Well, to be great at your job, you have to first show up for work. Embiid has been great at doing the opposite. Now in his 11th season, he has always been in poor physical condition. This poor conditioning apparently has delayed his debut this season.
The first paragraph of Hayes’ story was later deleted, with Hayes explaining in a tweet that he “I can understand why so many people were upset by this. Sorry about that.“Arthur Embiid died in a car accident in Cameroon in 2014.
Embiid did not accept the apology and criticized Hayes while speaking with reporters on Friday:
“If your body doesn’t respond well and your body tells you one thing, I did it. From what I can tell you, I broke my face twice, came back early with the risk of losing my sight, had broken fingers, still came back. So I’m not going to sit here and say: I see people saying, ‘He doesn’t want to play.’ I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself in danger when people say that. I think this is bullshit.
“Like this guy, he’s not here, Marcus, whatever his name is, I’ve done way too many things for this fucking town to be treated like that. I’ve done way too many things. I wish I could have done that.” I’ve been as lucky as the rest, but that doesn’t mean I’m not trying to do whatever it takes to be there, which I will be very soon.
Embiid has yet to play this season for the 76ers, who have lost five of their first six games. It was hoped the 30-year-old would make his season debut Wednesday at the Los Angeles Clippers, but the suspension will not begin until he is able and eligible to play.
