Sixers’ Joel Embiid Suspended Three Games For Shoving Reporter

The end may be near. Or more accurately for Joel Embiid and the 76ers, the beginning may be here. And by that, we mean the start of Embiid’s NBA suspension.

Per Shams Charania of ESPN, Embiid has been suspended by the league for three games for shoving a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist in the locker room over the weekend.

Embiid, of course, has been in the news lately for everything but playing in games, as the Sixers focus on injury management and making sure his knee is right. NBA officials also announced that they intended to investigate his shove of the reporter, and from that investigation comes punishment.

Interestingly, before that news broke, Sam Amick of The Athletic. reported that Embiid could have been medically cleared to play in Wednesday’s road game against the Clippers. 

“The hope, as team sources shared Monday, is that Embiid could play as soon as Wednesday’s game against the LA Clippers (unless he’s suspended by then),” Amick wrote. “He recently began practicing in five-on-five action, worked out extensively before the game against the Suns and is expected to take part in individual workouts Tuesday in Los Angeles that will set the stage for what comes next. Barring a setback, it seems likely there is an end in sight here very soon.”

While it is not known when Embiid was expected to return, he will be sidelined for three games upon being medically cleared.

Interestingly, Wednesday’s game marks the return of ex-Clipper and current Sixers star Paul George — so there already will be plenty of news surrounding the evening.

Either way, Philadelphia could definitely use Embiid sooner rather than later. Anyone who has witnessed their 1-5 start to the season is already well aware of that.

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