The 76ers entered the season with a careful plan to keep former MVP Joel Embiid healthy for the playoffs. Five games in, Embiid hasn’t played, nor has high-priced addition Paul George, and the playoffs no longer look like a guarantee with the team sitting 1-4.
On Saturday night, the season took a dramatic turn for the worse.
Embiid got into an altercation with a columnist in the locker room after the 76ers’ loss to the Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania; Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey was the first to report an incident involving Embiid.
Here are the latest details on Embiid’s locker room skirmish.
MORE: Latest timeline for Joel Embiid’s return
What did Joel Embiid do?
Embiid shoved Philadelphia 76ers columnist Marcus Hayes after the 76ers’ 124-107 home loss to the Grizzlies, Charania reported, adding that the 76ers big man did not throw a punch. The incident was broken up by 76ers security, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Embiid “took issue with a recent column that referenced his late brother and son,” according to the report.
76ers’ Joel Embiid got in an altercation with a columnist following tonight’s game in Philadelphia. Embiid took issue with a recent column that referenced his late brother and son, and Embiid shoved the columnist. No punch.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 3, 2024
Will Joel Embiid be suspended?
The NBA confirmed Sunday it has opened an investigation into the incident, which could lead to a fine or suspension of the 76ers star.
“We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation,” an NBA spokesman said in a statement.
Marcus Hayes Embiid article
That column that sparked the incident, written by Hayes in October, referenced Embiid’s desire to “leave a legacy” for his son and his late brother, but took a scathing approach that was widely criticized. “Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work,” Hayes wrote.
Charania’s report didn’t confirm that Hayes was the individual shoved by Embiid, but he wrote the column that sparked outrage at the time it was published.
“Don’t ever put my dead brother’s name in your mouth,” Embiid told Hayes, according to PHLY Sports’ Kyle Neubeck.
“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,” @KyleNeubeck describes Joel Embiid altercation with journalist https://t.co/CIorWx3NV7 pic.twitter.com/dIsDDaULZz
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 3, 2024
Embiid has missed time with numerous injuries throughout his career, and he has yet to play this season due to lingering knee issues.
The former MVP forcefully pushed back Friday on the idea that he’s not committed to playing and called Hayes out by name, telling reporters, “Like, that dude, he’s not here. Marcus whatever his name is. I’ve done way too much for this f—ing city to be treated like this.”
Embiid evidently got the chance to tell Hayes how he felt after Saturday’s game, and it escalated to a physical altercation.
What happened to Joel Embiid’s brother?
Arthur Embiid died at age 13 when he was struck by a truck while walking home from school in Cameroon, where the Embiids are from. The 2014 incident happened shortly after Embiid was drafted third overall by the 76ers.
Embiid’s 4-year-old son, born in 2020, is named Arthur in honor of his late brother.