Joel Embiid Suspended for Three Games for Shoving Reporter
The NBA has handed Joel Embiid a three-game suspension without pay for an incident involving a media member, the league confirmed on Tuesday.
The altercation took place in the locker room of the Philadelphia 76ers after their loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
Joe Dumars, the NBA's executive vice president and head of basketball operations, commented on the situation in a statement, emphasizing the importance of professionalism between players and the media. “Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Dumars said. “While we understand Joel was offended by the personal nature of the original version of the reporter's column, interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical.”
Embiid's suspension will start at the next game in which he is eligible to play.
The former MVP is currently sidelined as he continues to recover from a left knee injury and has not participated in any recent games.
The conflict stemmed from a column by a Philadelphia writer who raised concerns about Embiid's conditioning and availability, while also referencing personal matters, including Embiid's son and his late brother, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2014.
In a separate matter, the 76ers were fined $100,000 last week for releasing statements that contradicted Embiid's health status, violating the NBA's player participation policy.
The 76ers recently welcomed back Paul George for Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns but suffered a third consecutive defeat, bringing their record to 1-5.
