Joel Embiid has been suspended three games by the NBA on Tuesday for shoving a reporter over references to the 76ers star’s son and late brother in a critical column.
The incident occurred Saturday night after the Sixers’ home loss to the Grizzlies, which marked Embiid’s fifth missed game to begin the season as he nurses a knee injury.
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and the media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, the league’s Head of Basketball Operations, said in a statement.
“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, 30, took issue with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes mentioning his son and brother, both named Arthur, in an opinion piece in which he questioned Embiid’s conditioning.
“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 said to Hayes as reporters entered the locker room Saturday night, according to the Associated Press.
When Hayes attempted to apologize, Embiid said, “that’s not the f–king first time.”
The 2022-23 MVP then said he didn’t care what reporters said, to which Hayes replied, “but you do.”
Embiid then pushed Hayes’ shoulder before a member of the 76ers PR team stepped in to keep them apart.
Embiid’s younger brother died in a car accident 10 years ago.
