Joel Embiid suspended three games for shoving NBA columnist

An NBA superstar has been handed a three-game ban after a “physical” change room altercation over a reporter’s column.

Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games by the NBA on Wednesday (AEDT) for shoving a reporter over references to the 76ers star’s son and late brother in a critical column.

The incident occurred on Saturday night after the Sixers’ home loss to the Grizzlies, which marked Embiid’s fifth missed game to begin the season as he nurses a knee injury.

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“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and the media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, the league’s Head of Basketball Operations, said in a statement as reported by the New York Post.

“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.”

Joel Embiid (right), seen here with Paul George, has been suspended by the NBA. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Embiid, 30, took issue with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes mentioning his son and brother, both named Arthur, in an opinion piece in which he questioned Embiid’s conditioning.

“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 said to Hayes as reporters entered the locker room on Saturday night, according to the Associated Press.

When Hayes attempted to apologise, Embiid said “that’s not the f**king first time”.

Last time Embiid (left) was seen on court was at the Paris Olympics. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

He is yet to play a game this season. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images via AFP)

The 2022-23 MVP then said he didn’t care what reporters said, to which Hayes replied “but you do”.

Embiid then pushed Hayes’ shoulder before a member of the 76ers PR team stepped in to keep them apart.

Embiid’s younger brother died in a car accident 10 years ago.

The perennial All Star is yet to play a game this season for the Sixers as he manages an ongoing knee issue.

Without their leading scorer, the Sixers have started the season with just one win from their opening six games to sit at the foot of the Eastern Conference, ahead only of the struggling Milwaukee Bucks (1-6 record).

Amid reports Embiid is very close to making his season debut, that has now been delayed further as the suspension commences once he is cleared to return.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Joel Embiid suspended three games for shoving NBA columnist