NBA suspends Embiid for three games after shoving a journalist

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has received a three-game suspension without pay after an altercation involving a journalist, the NBA announced on Tuesday.

The incident occurred when the Cameroonian star allegedly pushed a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist who recently published a critical article about Embiid, mentioning both his son and his late brother.

"Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA," league executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement.

"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."

The league confirmed that Embiid’s suspension would start with the next regular-season game for which he is eligible to play.

Embiid, the NBA's 2023 Most Valuable Player and a member of the U.S. gold medal-winning Olympic team this year, has been sidelined for the season's first six games as he recovers from surgery on his left knee.

The 76ers have struggled in his absence, opening the season with a 1-5 record, including a narrow 118-116 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Before that game, Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse shared that he had spoken to Embiid following the altercation with columnist Marcus Hayes. In his piece, Hayes questioned Embiid’s dedication to "greatness," referencing both Embiid's young son, Arthur, and his late brother, also named Arthur, who died in a car accident during Embiid’s first season with the Sixers.

"As always I asked how he was feeling first of all and tried to get him locked into what we're doing," Nurse said, adding that "the team had been able to get Embiid more involved but did not yet know when he would be ready to play."