Philadelphia 76ers fans will have to keep waiting for the season debut of franchise star Joel Embiid after he was dealt a three-game suspension by the NBA.
The league announced the punishment on Tuesday in response to an altercation in the 76ers locker room following the team’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. During the incident, Embiid shoved Marcus Hayes, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, following a back-and-forth over an article that was written that made mention of the former MVP’s son and late brother.
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, executive vice president and head of basketball operations said in a statement released by the NBA. “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.”
Before shoving Hayes, Embiid confronted him and said “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.”
According to Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer Hayes said he was escorted to a meeting with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and general manager Elton Brand where the executives “apologized for the incident, expressed regret that it happened, asked me for my version of events. … they agreed that Embiid’s actions were unacceptable.”
Embiid’s suspension will commence with the next NBA regular season game for which he is eligible and able to play. The seven-time All-Star has been out of the 76ers lineup and yet to play this season as he nurses a knee injury from training camp. He’s currently listed as day-to-day with no clear timeline on when he’ll be healthy enough for game action.
The 76ers big man had also called Hayes out in a press conference following practice on Friday at the team’s training facility, referring to him as “Marcus, whatever his name is” while questioning critics of his prolonged absence.
“I’ve done way too much for this … city to be treated like this, done way too … much,” Embiid said Friday. “I wish I was as lucky as other ones, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not trying and I’m not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I’m gonna be here pretty soon.”
Meanwhile, co-star Paul George — who joined Philadelphia via free agency in the off-season, signing a four-year, $212 million deal — made his 76ers debut on Monday against the Phoenix Suns after missing the team’s first five games with a bone bruise suffered during the pre-season. The nine-time All-Star finished with 15 points on 4-of-14 shooting in 31 minutes in what ended up as a 118-116 loss, dropping the team to 1-5 on the year.
The 76ers return to action on Wednesday, continuing a three-game road trip by visiting the Los Angeles Clippers.
— with files from Associated Press
