Sixers center Joel Embiid, who has yet to play a game this season, has been suspended three games for a physical altercation with a columnist, the league announced.
Sixers star center Joel Embiid has been suspended three games following his physical altercation with Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes this past Saturday, the NBA announced Tuesday.
This was no doubt a tricky situation for the league. While players and reporters will occasionally have intense disagreements over things that were said or written, it typically doesn’t rise to the point of getting physical. Given the unprecedented nature of the incident, it was hard to know how long a suspension would be.
The league obviously has to have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes players putting hands on a reporter, but there is touchy context here. Hayes recently wrote a column invoking Embiid’s young son and late brother, both named Arthur. While the league can’t condone Embiid’s actions, it appears there might have been a level of empathy for a player put in that situation.
The following has been released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/eOQoaZxdUT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 5, 2024
The part about the suspension starting when Embiid “is eligible and able to play” is interesting — especially with reports that he could make his season debut Wednesday night. If Embiid begins his suspension immediately, he will be eligible to return Tuesday, Nov. 12, against the New York Knicks in the team’s first Emirates NBA Cup group play game.
Embiid has yet to play a game this season while he manages the left knee he had meniscus surgery on back in February. The 2022-23 MVP came back after eight weeks to play out the regular season and playoffs. He then spent the summer winning gold for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.
At media day, Embiid and Daryl Morey both spoke of the plan to deliver the two-time scoring champ to the postseason healthy — though surely no one expected this. Embiid missed the first six games of the season, but recently has been a full participant at practice, including scrimmaging 5-on-5.
The Sixers should at least have Paul George in the lineup Wednesday to take on his former team in L.A. The nine-time All-Star had to shake off some rust in the team’s heartbreaking loss to the Suns Monday, but his mere presence made the Sixers’ offense look much more fluid.
After their date with James Harden and the Clippers, the Sixers will remain in L.A. to take on the Lakers Friday to close out their three-game West Coast swing.