NBA Investigating Sixers’ Joel Embiid After Reports He Shouted Of ‘Consequences’ And Shoved Columnist

November 3, 2024

NBA officials said they’re aware of an incident in the 76ers’ locker room in which star center Joel Embiid reportedly shoved a reporter out of frustration.

The news was first reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Neither Embiid nor the Sixers have responded to news of the alleged incident.

Several NBA reporters told Hoops Wire that Embiid shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who has been critical of Embiid in recent weeks. Embiid has yet to play this season as he waits for a knee issue to fully heal.

Oh, boy, people will remember the Sixers season for all the wrong reasons. The team just dropped to 1-4 and Joel Embiid assaulted a reporter in the locker room.

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 3, 2024

Per Adam Aaronson of Philly Voice:

“This altercation was between Sixers center Joel Embiid and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who Embiid criticized after the team’s Friday practice over a column Hayes published on Oct. 23. Embiid took issue with Hayes’ column, which mentioned Embiid’s son and late brother. The column has since been edited.”

The unedited version of the column read: “Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er.”

The next line read: “Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite.”

More Aaronson:

“When the Sixers locker room was opened up for media access following Saturday night’s game, Embiid saw Hayes enter and began shouting at him. For two to three minutes, Embiid continued to raise his voice at Hayes.

“Embiid’s core message: he had no issue with Hayes or anybody else in the media saying whatever they wanted about his play on the court, but he believed Hayes had crossed a line by bringing up Embiid’s child and brother.

“At one point, Embiid made a comment about the ‘consequence’ that would ensue if Hayes mentioned Embiid’s family again.

“Embiid commented that this was not the first time he was having this issue with Hayes. Hayes told Embiid that he had never mentioned Embiid’s son or brother in a story prior to the one in question.

“Hayes attempted to interject a few times, but Embiid did not give him an extended chance to speak. Hayes asked Embiid if he could apologize — Hayes had said earlier in the conversation that he regretted mentioning Embiid’s son and brother, and clarified that the paragraph containing the references had been removed from the column — and Embiid conveyed that he was not interested in any sort of apology.”

No punches were thrown, Aaronson added.

“As the confrontation appeared to be nearing its end, Embiid became physical with Hayes, putting his hands in the area of Hayes’ shoulders,” Aaronson wrote. “Hayes stumbled a couple of steps backward, maintaining his footing. Hayes did not appear to be physically harmed in any way. As soon as this occurred, three of Embiid’s teammates restrained him to ensure the situation would not escalate any further.”