Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is again causing controversy following a heated altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. After the 76ers’ 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Embiid confronted Hayes in the locker room. Reportedly, Embiid pushed him over personal references made in an article. The Joel Embiid altercation has triggered another NBA investigation as the team struggles to win with a full injury report.
NBA To Investigate Philadelphia 76ers Star For Fight With Reporter
Joel Embiid Altercation With Reporter
The controversy that started the Embiid altercation was when Hayes wrote a piece referencing Embiid’s late brother and young son. The confrontation escalated as Embiid shouted, and despite an apology from Hayes, eventually shoved the columnist. Team officials and security tried to defuse the situation, with reporters asked not to cover the incident.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Embiid took offense to the inclusion of these family members. This led to a confrontation in the locker room. Importantly, Charania clarified that no punch was thrown, correcting an earlier report by a different Sixers beat writer.
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
The beginning of the issue was when Hayes’ column questioned Embiid’s injury recovery. Hayes implied he may not be fully committed to his return.
Embiid spoke on the questions raised in Hayes’ article, saying,
“I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk for people to be saying that. I do think it’s bull[expletive]. Like that dude, he’s not here, Marcus, whatever his name is, I’ve done way too much for this [expletive] city to be treated like this. Done way too [expletive] much. I wish I was as lucky as other ones, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I’m gonna be pretty soon.”
NBA Investigates Embiid Altercation
For Embiid, a seven-time NBA All-Star and recent NBA MVP, this drama adds to the pressure he’s already facing to return from a knee injury, which has kept him on the sidelines so far this season. The NBA and the 76ers have launched investigations into the matter, with 76ers president Daryl Morey stating that the team is treating it seriously.
Man, look. If you write this, you gotta be accountable to the player. This isn't talking about what Joel Embiid is doing on the court. This is ridiculous.
Is it worth getting physical with the dude? IDK, I want way more details on how this whole thing escalated. pic.twitter.com/lIXkwNrIk8
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) November 3, 2024
This comes on the heels of another investigation involving the 76ers. They were fined for misrepresenting the health status of an Embiid injury. With the 76ers starting the season 1-4, this news could not have come at a worse time.
While the NBA investigates the situation, 76ers fans are hoping to see both Embiid and new star signing Paul George off the Philadelphia 76ers injury report. If the 76ers don’t start getting things together quickly, they may find themselves in a deep hole in the NBA standings that is difficult to get out of.
Time For a Change in Media?
With the investigations ongoing, the outcome remains uncertain. The altercation between Joel Embiid and reporter Marcus Hayes could reshape how the media covers athletes and how players respond to personal attacks. For now, fans await Embiid’s return, as well as any further developments in this story.
