The $1m shove: NBA cracks down on 76ers’ Joel Embiid after altercation with columnist

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games without pay for pushing a member of the media.

The NBA said Embiid’s suspension will begin the next regular-season game for which he is eligible and can play. He has yet to appear for the Sixers this season with what the team calls left knee management. The suspension costs the 30-year-old, who was will earn $51.4 million in salary this seasonjust over $1 million in lost wages, according to ESPN.

Embiid yelled at a columnist from a Philadelphia newspaper on Saturday night and ultimately pushed him away during a locker room altercation.

“Mutual respect is critical to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, NBA chief basketball operations officer, said in a statement. “While we understand that Joel was offended by the personal nature of the reporter’s original version of the column, interactions on both sides must remain professional and never become physical.”

Embiid took issue with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who mentioned the All-Star center’s late brother and his son — both named Arthur — in columns questioning Embiid’s professionalism and commitment after playing on the Olympic Games in Paris for Team USA.

When reporters entered the locker room to talk to players on Saturday, Embiid stood up and confronted Hayes.

“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 told Hayes. .

Embiid continued, cursing several times. Hayes apologized, but Embiid refused. “That’s not the first time,” Embiid said.

A team security member asked the media not to report on what happened. Embiid then yelled over the guard. “They can do whatever they want,” Embiid said. “I don’t care.”