Embiid with his son at the NBA All-Star Game in 2022, during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland Erik Drost • CC BY 2.0

Embiid with his son at the NBA All-Star Game in 2022, during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland Erik Drost • CC BY 2.0

Joel Embiid Suspended by NBA Following Altercation with Journalist

Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, has been suspended for three games by the NBA for shoving a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, Marcus Hayes, in the team’s locker room. This incident followed a game loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on November 2, 2024.

The altercation stemmed from a column Hayes wrote criticizing Embiid’s availability due to health issues, which included references to Embiid’s late brother and his son, both named Arthur.

In a statement, the NBA addressed the importance of mutual respect between players and the media, noting that while they understood Embiid’s offense at the nature of Hayes’ column, physical interactions are strictly prohibited. The league expressed that players must remain professional, even in the face of personal criticism.

Embiid’s suspension will commence with tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, followed by Friday’s matchup against the Lakers and Sunday’s game with the Charlotte Hornets. Embiid is eligible to return on November 12 in an NBA Cup game against the New York Knicks, marking Philadelphia’s 10th game of the season.

With the 76ers already managing Embiid’s return carefully due to “left knee management,” the suspension further complicates Philadelphia’s plans for the early season..