Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was suspended for three games without pay by the NBA on Tuesday for shoving a media member.
The suspension will start with the next regular-season game in which Embiid is eligible to play. The 2023 NBA MVP has not played yet this season due to what the 76ers are calling left knee management.
The Sixers will begin a road trip in Los Angeles against the Clippers on Wednesday night. Embiid shoved a newspaper columnist after shouting at him in a locker room incident on Saturday night.
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” said Joe Dumars, the NBA executive, in a statement about the suspension.
“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 was upset with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who wrote columns questioning Embiid’s professionalism and shape after playing in the Paris Olympics. Hayes also mentioned Embiid’s late brother and his son, both named Arthur, which upset Embiid.
When reporters entered the locker room after the 76ers’ 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Embiid confronted Hayes.
“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,” Embiid told Hayes.
Embiid kept talking, using several curse words in the following sentences. Hayes apologized, but Embiid didn’t accept it. “That’s not the f——— first time,” Embiid said.
Embiid then told Hayes that he didn’t care about what reporters said. “But you do,” Hayes replied.
Embiid seemed to get louder, and soon after, he pushed Hayes on the shoulder. The team’s public relations officer stepped in between them. Another PR person moved Tyrese Maxey’s interview to the hallway outside the locker room to help clear the reporters away.
Embiid was selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft but missed his first two full seasons due to injuries. Since his first full season in 2016, he has played in 433 of 805 possible regular-season games and 59 of 67 possible playoff games.
