NBA hands down punishment to Joel Embiid over incident with reporter

Apr 16, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) before game one of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been suspended over the altercation that took place between him and a reporter over the weekend.

The NBA announced on Tuesday that Embiid has been suspended for three games “for shoving a member of the media” following the Sixers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday night.

“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” league executive Joe Dumars said in a statement. “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.”

The reporter that Embiid shoved was Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Embiid was angry with Hayes after the reporter wrote an article earlier this season that mentioned the 76ers star’s late brother, Arthur Embiid. Hayes received widespread criticism after he referenced both Embiid’s son and late brother while criticizing the former NBA MVP for supposedly being out of shape. You can read more about the situation here.

The 2024-25 season is off to a tumultuous start for Embiid, and he has yet to even make his debut. The NBA recently investigated the Sixers over Embiid’s murky injury status and ended up hitting the team with a massive fine. Embiid will now have to give up some of his own money while serving an unpaid suspension.