NBA player Joel Embiid is suspended for three games for shoving newspaper reporter Marcus Hayes last Saturday night.
The center for the Philadelphia 76ers was offended by an article published by Hayes, and took action by openly threatening the reporter in the locker room and then resulting to violence. According to the Associated Press, Embiid told the columnist, “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.”
Hayes attempted to apologize, but Embiid’s patience wore thin while claiming it wasn’t the first time that this reporter had brought up Embiid’s family unnecessarily. Hayes published articles heavily critiquing Embiid both as a player and as a person, specifically his questionable return to the NBA after the Paris Olympics. Hayes went as far as proposing that fans be given refunds when Embiid doesn’t play.
League executive Joe Dumars told the media, “Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in 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.”
Embiid now faces a three game suspension that begins when he is eligible to play. That time frame is currently unknown due to left knee problems from the 76ers player, who also has yet to play this year.
Philadelphia has had a rough start to the 2024 season, only having won one of six games so far this year. They are currently ranked #14 in the Eastern Conference, ranked only above the Milwaukee Bucks.
bkeatin1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @joelembiid, Instagram
