Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games without pay for shoving a member of the media.
The NBA said Embiid’s suspension will begin with the next regular-season game for which he is eligible and able to play. He has yet to appear for the Sixers this season with what the team calls left knee management. The suspension will cost the 30-year-old, who was due to earn $51.4m in salary this season, a little over $1m in lost pay, according to ESPN.
Embiid shouted at – and eventually shoved – a Philadelphia newspaper columnist in a locker room altercation on Saturday night.
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” the NBA’s head of basketball operations, 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.”
Embiid took issue with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who mentioned the All-Star center’s late brother and his son – both named Arthur – in columns questioning Embiid’s professionalism and effort after playing in the Paris Olympics for Team USA.
As reporters entered the locker room to talk to players on Saturday, Embiid stood and confronted Hayes.
“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.
Embiid continued, swearing several times. Hayes offered an apology, which Embiid refused. “That’s not the fucking first time,” Embiid said.
A team security member asked the media not to report on what had happened. Embiid then yelled over the security guard. “They can do whatever they want,” Embiid said. “I don’t give a shit.”
