Sixers center Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games without pay for shoving Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes in the team’s locker room on Saturday, the NBA announced in a press release (Twitter link).
“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” the league’s head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement. “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 called out Hayes last week for columns in which he harshly criticized the former MVP and was reportedly particularly upset about one piece in which Hayes said the injured center isn’t providing a good example as a father for his son Arthur, who was named after the 30-year-old’s late brother. Hayes mentioned Embiid’s son and brother by name in the original version of the column before later removing the reference.
Embiid confronted Hayes in the locker room following Saturday’s loss to Memphis and reportedly had a heated discussion with the veteran columnist, directing some profane comments his way before shoving him.
Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer shared more details on the altercation earlier this week, writing that Hayes attempted to apologize to Embiid but “was rebuffed before the confrontation turned physical.” Hayes said he met with Sixers president Daryl Morey and GM Elton Brand and that they apologized, asked for his side of the story, and “agreed that Embiid’s actions were unacceptable,” Mizell relays.
Embiid has yet to make his debut this fall due to left knee injury management and his suspension won’t begin until he’s healthy enough to play. That may happen soon — Sam Amick of The Athletic reported this morning that there was hope within the organization that the star big man could play his first game of the season on Wednesday vs. the Clippers.
That obviously won’t happen now, but if Embiid is medically cleared to return, he could begin serving his suspension that night. In that scenario, he’d also miss Friday’s game vs. the Lakers and Sunday’s matchup with the Hornets before potentially suiting up next Tuesday vs. the Knicks.
The suspension will cost Embiid $1,063,778 of his $51,415,938 salary, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Are there going to be any repercussions for Hayes?
No.
Exactly. His employers gave the article the ok and published it. What do you think they’re going to do now? Fire him?
What a great question @Tacocat. I would venture to say absolutely not….I’m all for freedom of the press and free speech, but we need to stop allowing these writers/media to self-anoint themselves as the gate keepers who can’t face repercussions for their own actions.
Embid was wrong but who disciplines the writer? Rhetorical question.
Wrong? I think most of us will agree if someone says things about someone’s dead family members getting shoved is a mild response.
He got off light.
Naw, for $1.9 million he should’ve got his money’s worth and punched in the face.
Yeah, when offended by written words, punching someone in the face is always the best option.
Yeah, I’m a strong advocate for losing control and assaulting people when offended.
There’s line you don’t cross and he crossed it, families are off limits. It’s not like this is the first time he’s provoked Embiid. Someone can be laid back as can be but if you keep poking them, eventually they’re going to retaliate.
Thanks Mr Trump for your words of wisdom.
Jimmy butler did the same thing a couple of years ago and got 1 game…how is this light?
How do u suspend a guy who isn’t even playing? The sixers are a joke either way
The 76ers should just take him off the injury report for the next three games to get the suspension over with.
1-8 here we come!
Hayes should be banned from lockerooms for good
Yeah.
He wrote mean words. I think he should possibly be executed.
This is all orchestrated by morey and Philly media. Give Embiid a controversial but indisputable suspension to buy non-injury time off. They are trying to save him for 2nd half of the season. This is just a smoke screen.
Marcus Hayes is garbage
When you have no writing skills or knowledge of sports, you resort to tabloid-type journalism.
How long is Hayes suspended.
Where is the punishment for the reporter?
Moray and Brand should be defending their players not saying that his behavior was unacceptable… what a pair of clowns!?!?!
Silver is such a wimp. 3 games? Probably done in conjunction with the PHI FO so the latter could first put out a statement that Embid would probably play this week, then blame the league for him continuing to sit. At least make it a real 3 game suspension, i.e., the first 3 home games after he plays in 5 regular season games. But that my really be a punishment, so it was probably never considered.
Whining about the two time scoring champ and MVP sitting out for whatever reason, then crying about the length of a unpaid suspension for a justified shove of reporter? What are you a failed hoopster whose dreams were shattered by a devastating knee injury suffered attempting a reverse jam in kindergarten?
Laughing, not whining. You’re not too bright, so it might be best for you to focus on your own background and where it went wrong. Kindergarten, for me, was a good year.
Marvelous…
Hayes should be banned from every NBA locker room for this.
100% agree with u mr davey…
Embiid got off very lightly…
Can’t be physical with those who are the reason you get paid as much as you do…
The media are just members of the hype team… Paid to get people talking about basketball… And this, much like Stephen A Smith, gets people talking about basketball…