NBA looking to ‘come down hard on Sixers star Joel Embiid’ after center’s furious exchange with female ref

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is facing possible fines and a possible suspension after he shouted at referee Jenna Schroeder before and after his ejection in the second quarter of Monday’s 116-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Sources have told DailyMail.com that the league will not hold back the erratic seven-footer, who has been on an emotional rollercoaster this season as he appeared in just eight games due to injuries, suspensions and the team’s controversial strategy to rest him. in the second leg of back-to-back matches.

“While the referee is undoubtedly an equal and does not need to be protected in any way from her male counterparts, the NBA is looking to crack down on Embiid, who has been an emotional mess all season,” the source said. DailyMaill.com. “He’s definitely been through something, and this is just another escalation.”

The source suggested that the Sixers could ask him to seek anger management or quit the team.

However, a club spokesperson rejected the source’s claims in an email to DailyMail.com, including the idea that Embiid could be asked to resign. And there remains the possibility that the league will view Embiid’s ejection as punishment enough, since he never had any physical contact with referee Jenna Schroeder, who was unfazed by the incident.

Now on a 7-3 run after a 3-14 start to the season, the Sixers are quickly losing patience with Embiid, who previously had a physical altercation with a reporter that resulted in a three-game suspension.

An enraged Embiid charged at the officials after the eviction and was restrained

“The team has been thinking, ‘what now?'” the source said. “Before it gets too late, they’re trying to figure out what they can do to help Joel, keep the team chemistry intact and move forward in a better light.”

Embiid’s representatives did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment. A league source did not provide an official response when contacted by DailyMail.com.

Embiid was ejected for bursting on Schroeder late in the second quarter. Initially called for a foul on San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, he only made matters worse by furiously contesting the call and subsequently receiving two technical fouls, resulting in his ejection.

Embiid appeared to be about to face Schröder, but it was not clear from the replays whether he had contacted the referee. From certain angles it looked like his chin was making contact with her hands and she was signaling her decision.

The 30-year-old Embiid had to be restrained by coach Nick Nurse, 76ers teammate Kyle Lowry and several assistants. Embiid even tore off the mask he was wearing after suffering a sinus fracture earlier in December.

NBA TV host Stephanie Ready lambasted Embiid, saying in the studio on Monday: “It’s a foul (at Wembanyama) in any way. You can tell he disputes it, she tries to discuss it calmly and he leaves.

‘Technical error, and now look. He approaches her and steps towards her as if he wants to have a physical confrontation, which I have a problem with. He must be stopped. He’s out of the game now.

“I have a lot to say, as a woman… what the hell was he thinking?”

Embiid received quick and immediate criticism from analysts and fans for his shock behavior

Analyst and former Duke star Alaa Abdelnaby questioned where Embiid contacted Schroeder, but said the Philadelphia star had no excuse for seeing red.

“Joel has to be better than that. Right? Because that’s just too easy for the referees,” Abdelnaby said during a replay. “He’s crowding her out.”

As the first scenes unfolded live, Abdelnaby was shocked by what he saw.

“This is unbelievable,” he said, as Embiid exploded. ‘This is unbelievable. This is Mickey Mouse. This isn’t real. This is a joke… This is a joke.”

Embiid was reportedly drafted by teammate Tyrese Maxey earlier this season.

As reported by ESPN, Embiid was criticized for being late “for everything” amid Philadelphia’s dismal start to the season. Maxey’s point, sources told the Worldwide Leader, was that Embiid’s tardiness affects everyone in the Sixers’ locker room, from coaches and players to the staff.

Maxey and Embiid remain close friends but regularly hold each other accountable, sources told ESPN.

“Tyrese loves Big Fella, but this is the elephant in the room,” one of the attendees told ESPN.

The NBA suspended 76ers star Joel Embiid for three games after he assaulted a reporter

Embiid also faced previous criticism of his work ethic and behavior during his nine years in Philadelphia.

Embiid previously received a three-game suspension for pushing columnist Marcus Hayes. The Associated Press initially reported that Embiid confronted the Philadelphia Inquirer columnist over an article he wrote about his late brother and his son.

“The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you’ll see what I’m going to do to you and I’ll have to… live with the consequences,” Embiid reportedly said.

But as an NBA source told DailyMail.com, “Joel has no regrets about this incident.”

“He’s fine with being suspended, he was given the authority to do it because he was so upset about it and is still upset about it,” the source said. “Team officials have made it clear; they don’t want this to ever happen again and have asked him to let this pass and be an unfortunate incident and they want him to become the bigger man and move on. If he sticks to it, great, if he continues to do damaging things, maybe the franchise should consider trading him.”

They described a potential transaction as a “last-case scenario.” Embiid recently signed a three-year extension worth $192 million, which complicated any deal to say the least.