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Joel Embiid is under NBA investigation after he reportedly shoved a columnist after the Sixers game

Online Niel November 3, 2024

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid looks across the court after an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) — Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid looks across the court after a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The NBA is investigating reports that Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid shoved a reporter after Saturday’s game, league, ESPN’s Shams Charania announced:

“We are aware of an incident in the Sixers locker room tonight and are beginning an investigation.”

Earlier on Saturday, there were reports of an altercation when Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Embiid assaulted a reporter. There was initial confusion over whether Embiid hit the reporter because of a the now-deleted tweet of Pompeii, but Charania he later reported that it was a push, not a punch.

PHLY’s Kyle Neubeck later provided a recap of his company’s postgame showconfirming that the reporter involved was Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“The second Joel realized he was there, he went into a verbal back and forth. Obviously, we can’t repeat many of the words that were said on this show. The gist of it was basically, “You can say I’m lousy, you can say whatever you want about me as a player. Never put my dead brother’s name in your mouth. Don’t talk about my family. Don’t bring them into it. 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’re going to be in real trouble.

“They kind of go back and forth and at some point, say 90 seconds to two minutes into this back and forth, Joel pushes him. Team security intervenes. The players kind of surround the situation and everyone scattered.”

At issue is a recent column by Hayes about Embiid’s injury issues, which drew widespread criticism for referencing Embiid’s late son and brother. The column was written in response 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’ column leader:

“Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major turning point of his basketball career. He often says he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his younger brother, who tragically died in a car accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er.

“Well, to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at the exact opposite. Now in its 11th season, it has been consistently in a bad mood. This poor conditioning seems to have delayed their debut this season.”

Hayes later removed the first paragraph, explaining in a tweet that he “i can see why so many people were upset about it. I’m sorry about that.“Arthur Embiid died in a car accident in Cameroon in 2014.

One person who didn’t accept the apology was Embiid, who blamed Hayes while speaking to reporters on Friday:

“If your body doesn’t react well and if your body tells you one thing, I did it. As far as I can tell, I broke my face twice, I came back early at the risk of losing my sight, I had broken fingers, I still came back. So I’m not going to sit here and be like – I see people saying, ‘He doesn’t want to play.’ I’ve done too much for this city to put me in danger for people to say that. I think they are bulls***.

“Like that guy, he’s not here, Marcus, whatever his name is, I’ve done way too much for this damn town to be treated like this. I did too much. He’s been as lucky as others, but that doesn’t mean I’m not trying and doing whatever it takes to be there, which I will be soon enough.”

It seems that was not the end.