Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended by the NBA for three games without pay following an incident in which he shoved a media member. The suspension will take effect for Embiid’s next eligible game, though he has not played so far this season due to “left knee management,” according to the 76ers.
The 2023 NBA MVP was involved in a heated altercation with a newspaper columnist in the locker room on Saturday night, which escalated to Embiid shouting at and eventually pushing the reporter.
NBA executive Joe Dumars addressed the situation in a statement, emphasizing that “mutual respect” is crucial in the relationship between players and the media. While acknowledging that Embiid was upset by the personal nature of the reporter’s column, Dumars stressed that interactions must remain professional and that physical confrontations are unacceptable.
Joel Embiid became upset with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who had written columns criticizing Embiid’s professionalism and conditioning after his participation in the Paris Olympics. In his writings, Hayes referenced Embiid’s late brother and his son, both of whom are named Arthur, which further angered the NBA star.