Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star center and 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player, faces mounting challenges both on and off the court, with his latest three-game suspension highlighting a series of controversies that have plagued the team’s early season.
The NBA suspended Embiid without pay after he shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes in the locker room on Saturday, November 2, 2024, following a game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Following the Sixers’ loss, Embiid confronted Hayes in the team’s home locker room at the Wells Fargo Center In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The confrontation was over a critical column published on October 23, which had initially mentioned Embiid’s late brother and young son, both named Arthur. Embiid’s brother had passed away in 2014 at age 13 after being struck by a truck in Cameroon. Embiid took the column personally, feeling that family members should be off-limits to the press.
Hayes had previously apologized on “X,” and the Inquirer removed references to Embiid’s family members from the article. After a brief exchange, Embiid pushed Hayes before the two were separated.
Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of Basketball Operations, stated that mutual respect is essential to the relationship between players and the media. He acknowledged that although the personal nature of the reporter’s original column upset Joel Embiid, all interactions must remain professional on both sides and should never escalate to physical confrontation.
The suspension comes amid a turbulent period for both Embiid and the 76ers. The NBA recently fined the team $100,000 for making “public statements” that were “inconsistent” with Embiid’s health status regarding his left knee condition. The league’s new player participation policy allows for increased fines of $250,000 or more for subsequent violations.
Embiid’s availability has been a persistent issue throughout his career. The seven-time All-Star has played in only 433 of a possible 805 regular season games since entering the league, earning him the nickname “Mr. 46 Percent” for his limited participation rate.
Recently, Embiid responded to criticism about his commitment, addressing reporters with examples of his past sacrifices for the team. He highlighted enduring serious injuries, such as breaking his face twice and returning to play sooner than advised, even though it put his vision at risk. Frustrated by claims that he lacks the desire to play, Embiid emphasized that he has given more than enough for the city, taking significant personal risks. He described the criticism as “(expletive),” saying that he’s done far too much for this “(expletive) city” to be treated in such a way.
The 76ers’ front office has noticed the mounting issues. Sources indicate the team would consider trading Embiid if his off-court behavior continues to be problematic, though such a move is considered a “last-case scenario” given his importance to the franchise.
With Embiid and newly acquired star Paul George sidelined with injuries, the 76ers have struggled to a 1-5 start to the season, adding pressure to an already tense situation.