Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid got into a verbal altercation with a local reporter that turned physical after the team’s 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
The incident happened in the Sixers’ locker room, where Embiid confronted Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes about an article that made reference to Embiid’s son and late brother. The piece also criticized the seven-time All-Star’s ability to stay healthy and act professionally.
“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,” Embiid told Hayes as reporters filtered into the locker room.
Embiid continued with some profane language before rejecting an attempted apology from Hayes. After Embiid said that he didn’t care what reporters had to say, Hayes said, “But you do,” prompting Embiid to raise his voice and push Hayes on the shoulder.
A public relations official for the 76ers then got in between the two while another staff member tried to get reporters out of the locker room.
Team security asked reporters not to report on the altercation, at which point Embiid delivered another message.
“They can do whatever they want,” he said. “I don’t give a (expletive).”
The league has already said that it is conducting an investigation into the matter.
“We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation,” a spokesman for the NBA said in a statement.
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN that he too is aware of the situation.
“We take the situation very seriously and are investigating, and have already spoken to the NBA,” Morey said in a statement.
Embiid, 30, has yet to play in a game this season because of left knee injury management. He was limited to just 39 games (all starts) in 2023-24.
In those 39 games, Embiid averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 blocks.
Embiid is only two seasons removed from being named MVP, earning that title by posting averages of 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks in 66 games (all starts) during the 2022-23 campaign.
Philadelphia is off to a 1-4 start this season.
