Joel Embiid was involved in a scuffle with a columnist after the Sixers lost at home to Memphis tonight, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Embiid made contact with the journalist, but Charania describes the action as a shove rather than a punch. That version of events was supported by Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Recounting the exchange for PHLY Sports (Twitter video link), Kyle Neubeck identifies the columnist as Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer, whom Embiid singled out in public comments earlier this week. Hayes has written multiple columns accusing Embiid of being unprofessional and blasting the Sixers for a lack of transparency about his condition.
Embiid was particularly upset about a piece from Hayes criticizing him for not being ready for the season opener and claiming that he’s not providing a good example as a father.
“Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his career,” Hayes wrote. “He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother. … In order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite.”
Embiid approached Hayes as soon as he became aware that he was in the locker room, Neubeck adds. He directed some profane comments at the writer, and Neubeck said he added something along the lines of “You can say I suck, you can say whatever you want about me as a player. Don’t ever put my dead brother’s name in your mouth. Don’t talk about my family. Don’t bring them into this. You want to talk to me like a man and talk to me about basketball, that’s different, but if you ever talk about my family again we’re going to have real problems.”
The shove occurred after about 90 seconds of the heated discussion, Neubeck adds, and then team security and other players moved in to break it up.
The Sixers are off to a 1-4 start as Embiid has been sidelined with “left knee injury management.” He has reportedly been making progress toward a recovery, but no date has been set for his return.
It’s possible Embiid could face a suspension that will keep him out of action even longer. An NBA spokesman told Charania “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.” (Twitter link)
Not knowing the story about his brother until now, I agree with Embid
You’ve gotta be smarter than that, Hayes got the reaction he wanted. Take the high road. Words sure, can’t get physical.
Man a good journalist should know thats a no go area. You just dont do that. Embiid should not be getting into it with someone Im assuming is tiny compared to him, but you start bringing dudes dead brother into it I might beat his a*s in the same position…
@ chapman, didn’t say he was a good journalist. Did it for a reaction, now he’s famous and getting a pay bump. This isn’t the streets, so to speak. He mentioned unprofessional and Embiid just made him correct. Embiid should know what’s going here and just walk away but not mature enough. Im not saying its right. If thats at a bar youd punch holes through him. This is NBA man not some bush league. Embiid will get his backside handed to him here. Hayes wins because Embiid couldn’t control himself. Joel shouldn’t give a F about some grub talking smack.
Its not about streets there are things you dont say to people and not expect to get in a fight. That goes double for something you already printed and sent out to millions.
Find any person and talk s*** on their dead relative and see what happens…
The NBA will come down VERY hard on this ANT THEY SHOULD. Physical violence against any reporter needs severe punishment and he’ll be lucky if a police report isn’t filed. His days in Philadelphia are over soon.
Pushing someone is pretty far from causing any injury. He should sue for slander there is no way that guy can prove because the teams PR people handle something a certain way that hes a bad father!
I think I “liked” (agreed) with every comment before this one. Joel should have just given the silent treatment to either all reporters, just that reporter, or all reporters from that reporter’s paper.
If it is a tiny shove then to me it is not a big deal. I don’t see him leaving Phily unless the injury is long lasting and he can’t be effective.
Hayes wanted Joel to confront him in the sixers locker room, publicly, use putrid and vile language, then shove him, in spite of Hayes attempting to apologize??? Are you missing the cerebral cortex ?
Where does it say he was apologizing?
Truth hurts, and now you’ll be paying for it. When you’re on the money Embiid is on, you aren’t above criticism. Dudes always been weak between the ears in my opinion, always passing the buck. Trade this dude in the off-season. I hear Detriot is great place to raise a family and the weather in Utah is beautiful in winter.
Its unprofessional to go where that guy did. You dont talk about the players family and call him a bad father thats just plain f***ed up and dude should be fired…
As above.
I put those comments right up there with the interview “Squeaky” did with Pete Rose at the all star game many years ago. Unprofessional and purely to create controversy.
You again?
This dude shouldn’t even be allowed in the locker room for writing that trash. With all the negative headlines in sports with players being involved in off field/court situations, Embiid is a saint in comparison. To question the example he is setting for his son because of injury status is just egregious. That’s some gross fan boy take, not a sports writer. Common sense rules of engagement, families are off limits…plain and simple
Embiid should have been ready for the season and he should be criticized for it but Hayes is a clown. He’s been with the Daliy News/Inquirer for over 30 years and is a professional agitator. He crossed the line bringing in Emiid’s family. Criticizing Embiid is ok if done properly. He’s the Howard Eskin of writing and nobody likes either of them. I don’t blame Embiid for that.
I don’t understand how anyone could agree with the columnist on this one. bringing in someone’s family is never ok and not needed. talk smack about the guy and his injury history sure. what does that have to do with his son?
No one agrees with him but any type of violence attached to the game is a serious no no and suspension coming quickly.
Found Hayes’ burner.
There’s line that you don’t cross and if you do you should expect some sort of consequences. Talk sh*t get hit. It wouldn’t surprise me if the NBA “punishes” Embiid in some way but a suspension is too far. If Embiid gets suspended then the reporter should have his access to any NBA related events taken away. Otherwise you’re just opening up the flood gates for reporters and “journalists” to write inflammatory articles about players just to get a rise out of them.
It only matters because of Embiids size. If these were two equal dudes and he prints stuff about Embiids family square up whatever. It is a little like an adult fighting a child though so that gets a little ify.
so suspend both? The writer can not be allowed in an NBA locker room.
6ers could ban him from team property
The problem in this country is too many people feel protected when running their mouth. Not nearly enough punches in the face for countless fools.
Yes, if people were punched in the face more, this country would be in great shape.
Theres a presidential candidate that has never been knocked around so he just keeps running his mouth. If that douche ever had to face the people he talks on and fight he would shut up real quick.
He’s going to get suspended one game and fined. Marcus Hayes isn’t going to be allowed in any locker rooms. No one is laying the hammer down in this case. Are you the senior editor of your year book?
Getting shoved isnt really “violence” btw. That’s snowflake stuff.
As much as I can understand from those quotes from Hayes articles, Embiid talked in the past about his son, what it means for him, what he feels about it etc. So if you make some public statements about your family and if you said that you gave your son name after your dead brother (maybe he didn’t said that but somehow it’s a public fact since Hayes has that info) someone can point at this, but ok, I can admit that it was kind of a low blow. But clearly Embiid is not ok mentally and psychically, one results from another and he’s struggling.
It’s public knowledge that Embiid named his son after his late brother. Mentioning them in an article isn’t the issue. The issue is Hayes basically suggesting that he’s dishonoring his late brother because he’s a bad role mode for his son because he isn’t playing. That has nothing to do with “not ok mentally and physically”. Want to criticize Embiid for not playing? Go right ahead. When you start bringing in family thats when you cross the line.
Embiid’s words are correct, his physical actions are not. A physical escalation in response to written words is the losing side of the battle every time. If Embiid wanted to, he could’ve destroyed this reporter and his career with a calm, even-keeled and level-headed response pointing out the disgusting and inhumane words unjustly written about him and his family.
Instead and unsurprisingly he took the dumbass physical assault retaliation, proving some of the grotesque critiques true. Now they are both guilty of being assholes instead of just a single person.
Being unfazed was Embiid’s path to victory. You can’t be 7 foot 315 pounds and assault anyone over words. There is a privilege to the being that size, possessing that talent and earning the money that comes with NBA stardom.
Properly responding to criticism is an absolute necessity when you have publicly positioned yourself the way Embiid has.
I think they both crossed the line of professional behavior. Embiid has much more to lose and escalated a verbal conflict into a physical one. Loss Embiid. Trolls should able to recognize their own kind.
Did he though? we dont have video of it but it sounds like he warned the dude not to do something so stupid again or get what he deserves, and a min later Embiid pushed him. I bet this tool wouldnt let it go since the quotes from the other authors have Embiid spelling it out pretty simple. He even gave dude a pass for the first time.
You question and dismiss my comment by saying there isn’t video proof, and then speculate about the reporter behavior in your comment.
Joel has more eyes and ears on him whenever he wants it, more so than this reporter. Embiid had the option of taking the high road and simply publicly pointing out the offending words that this guy wrote about him. No one is arguing that writing those comparisons is acceptable anywhere, and Joel would have won and possibly even got this guy removed from coverage of the 76ers.
Instead he chose physical retaliation, setting a bad example of conflict resolution for kids and showing evidence of his physical capabilities, ultimately proving the columnist correct in his criticisms. It’s the one of worst things he could’ve chosen.
There is a responsibility that comes with being the size Joel is, making the money Joel is and publicly positioning yourself the way Joel has. Embiid failed this responsibility spectacularly.
If Joel had actually hit this fool druuuuu he would have been dancing like tua.
It doesnt take 90 sec to say his quote, so what happened next to keep it going?
That hack columnist is fortunate it was just a push – he deserved a straight right.
This is what I’m saying about Hayes. He’s no idiot – the guy does this a lot. He went in too far this time though.
So this making money thing is getting a bit out of hand ain’t it?
That’s the crux of the issue here…
Making waves to make money is where this reporter is at…
It won’t be long before ChatGP is doing all the reporting anyway… So that the clickbait reporters looking for some heat from a controversial article aren’t anywhere near a locker room…
Wish he made a wiser choice but I have to agree with Embiid on this one. Hayes coulda written that entire article without disrespecting his relationship with a dead family member. It was just a very unnecessary and irrelevant paragraph. How low can you get?
Here’s a hot take: they both suck.
Hayes sucks because it’s unprofessional to bring his family into the discussion.
Embiid sucks because he let that little gnat under his skin and then laid hands on him. Men should never lay hands on women because of the size/strength disparity; a man of Embiid’s size and strength needs to extend that restraint to all normal sized men as well.
Both should be disciplined.
Yeah, best thing to deal with guys like this Hayes dude is to completely ignore them. That’s the biggest punishment you can give such clickbait media guys: Pretending they don’t exist.
This is running for worst comment ever on this website
If you think this is the first time Hayes has stepped over the line about Embiid, you are delusional. This is harassment in any other arena. Hayes is trash at his job. He is a troll and belongs on reddit, not in a locker room. He has the emotional intelligence of a 6 year old spoiled brat.
Embiid miss much of the 2nd half of last season, only to come back for the playoffs, hobbled.
Then he goes out and plays in the Olympics, and did well.
But now he is injured again, same injured knee, and can’t play?
Reporters don’t need to bring family in to the story, players shouldn’t make contact with reporters.
Both at fault …….. though, if you look at it objectively, Hayes just did his job – he’s both a reporter and a columnist. They humanize sports personalities, with their stories in relation to the sport.
If anything, Hayes violated an unwritten rule.
As for Embiid, being a self-proclaimed master troll, you would think that he SHOULD have seen this kind of thing coming a mile away …….. being a public figure as well, he should have used some restraint.
Podcast P is very pleased ……. this should make for great material for his next podcast – something he always seems available for.
“Hayes wrote. “He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother.””
Embiid should be commended for restraining himself from punching that media hack’s lights out.
Exactly right. Hayes should be missing some teeth today. Lucky he isnt. He should be banned from all NBA locker rooms and banned from being in media.
free embiid
#freeembiid
Looks like another great year for Philly.
All of this reminds me that many politicians behave somewhat similarly. So maybe this is the new “normal” (unfortunately).
Many politicians hide behind theyre station and security when they should get popped in the mouth for what they say. Biggest group of weenies that pick fights with people and then run to the principle…
Yeah metioning the tragic passing of his younger brother is way out of limits, Embiid was really close to him ans you could tell that hurt him deeply. Regardless, mention any dead family members or even live ones is weird as hell, out of pocket and unnecessary. I am not for violence but considering this situation, he should be glad he was only shoved or whatever.
Soft. Gotta let it go, you stand to gain nothing acting like this.
It’s more than his knee that needs managing.
He’ll get suspended now, and get more of what he ultimately wants anyway: more time to sit
Embiid played in the Olympics. And there wasn’t any stories about his health. After the Olympics there were no stories about his health. NBA preseason starts and there is nothing about his health.
Then the season is going start. And now there is concern about game management. Because of healing from injuries from last year. Sixers are not handling this right. They are not informing the public. If he did have swelling in his knee. Oh he is not right yet, as Embiid claims. The public should know why. What happened between the Olympics and opening day. That has Embiid now managing his playing time. Something is off here. And considering his history with injuries. The Sixers should be addressing this latest issue head on. Not hiding behind Embiid. And letting him take the heat for this.
So the reporter regurgitated something Embiid has said in the past and then made a critical statement about his work ethic. Literally a basic logical statement. If X then Y.
Yes, only YOU are allowed to talk about YOUR family like that, you debatelord fool. “Remove all the facts from this and he’s right” you stink at posting buddy, be better!
Keep your panties on
GTFO thats not close and you know it
You don’t get personal with players. He crossed the line. Embiid shouldn’t put his hands on anyone. He should have homies doing it.
If what he said after referring to what Embiid has already referred to about his son or brother isn’t bad then the whole statement isn’t bad.
Hayes has always been a dick. He wrote a s**t article about Siriani too when he first started.
It’s not clear what Embid did. A “shove” can mean alot of things. If he assaulted the guy he should get a real suspension. Long enough that load management shouldn’t be an issue the rest of the year.
What the guy wrote seemed quite out of line, but it’s certainly not a defense to an assault. Frankly, its not even much of a mitigating factor. Almost all assaults are percipitated, in part, by something the victim did or said. Unless those actions amount to an imminent physical threat to the perpetrator, it’s not defense. Real mitigating factors can involve the victim’s actions or words, but they usually need to occur within the context of the confrontation. Not in something that was published earlier.
Disclaimer: I am a Knicks fan and detest Embiid as a basketball player. With that out of the way, f*** Marcus Hayes. What he wrote in his article was unprofessional on a whole other level. What does Embiid’s injury history and past conditioning issues have to do with him as a father or with his dead younger brother? Hayes knows he won’t suffer any consequences from the NBA and it got approved by the editors because it’s tabloid click-bait trash.
Embiid was an idiot for putting his hands on the dude. Not because I don’t feel he was justified, but because the NBA is likely going to suspend him for it. Whereas Hayes will walk away with nothing more than a bad rep within the 76ers locker room (which I hear he already earned over the years) and a victim complex. I really hope the league suspends Hayes’ media privileges for a time, but I doubt he will suffer any consequences for the part he played.
The old school code remains the same…sure chirp about the individual if you’re in need of a story, don’t bring someone’s family into the mix, especially a dearly departed relative. Embiid handled it better than I would, that’s for sure.
Though I am not an Embiid fan, he is 100% right with this one. Dead brother reference, not a role model for his own kids?! That reporter should be banned from the locker room and being around the team in general. It is classless to bring family into this, and to be honest, I would have knocked the F out had I been Joel.