Breaking: Joel Embiid Suspended by NBA For Altercation

He hasn't played a game yet this season, but the Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid has garnered a suspension from the NBA for shoving a media member.

BREAKING: Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games without pay after an altercation shoving a columnist in the locker room pic.twitter.com/3Ye480xm2h
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2024

The altercation happened in the locker room, and Embiid will have to sit out three games due to the suspension — another three games, that is, once he's finally ready to return.

"Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA," said NBA executive VP and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said. "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."

According to the reports, Embiid confronted the Philadelphia Inquirer's Marcus Hayes about something he wrote that the former MVP wasn't too pleased with. He allegedly pushed Hayes in the shoulder as the Sixers PR man got in between the two.

The offending passage, which has since been deleted from the column in question, read as follows:

"Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career," Hayes wrote (via Aaronson). "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. 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."

"You are going to see what I'm going to do to you," said Embiid, if Hayes ever referenced his brother or son again, according to the reports.

Perhaps a little too personal on the part of the reporter? Let us know in the comments.