Apr 28, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the first half of game four of the first round in the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher
The Sixers lost 124-107 to the Memphis Grizzles Saturday night, but the results of the game had about a half hour shelf life.
That's because Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer relayed on X that after the game, Joel Embiid — who has yet to appear for the Sixers this season — "assaulted a reporter."
Oh, boy, people will remember the Sixers season for all the wrong reasons. The team just dropped to 1-4 and Joel Embiid assaulted a reporter in the locker room.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 3, 2024
In a since-deleted response on X, Pompey initially said that Embiid punched said reporter:
However, ESPN's Shams Charania hears that Joel Embiid got into a postgame altercation with a columnist following the loss, but says it was a shove, not a punch:
76ers’ Joel Embiid got in an altercation with a columnist following tonight’s game in Philadelphia. Embiid took issue with a recent column that referenced his late brother and son, and Embiid shoved the columnist. No punch.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 3, 2024
Charania has since reported that the NBA is investigating the incident:
NBA spokesman tells ESPN: “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.” https://t.co/mfv4sfNm7r
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 3, 2024
Pompey later added this tweet. It's unclear why he put "shoved" in quotes:
The reporter was “shoved” by Embiid.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 3, 2024
Kyle Neubeck of PHLY was present in the locker room and offered this recap of the events that took place:
Joel Embiid to Marcus Hayes:
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) November 3, 2024
“You can say I suck, you can say whatever you want about me as a player.
Video: @PHLY_Sports
pic.twitter.com/yxAbiMzrJD
Charania's report does not specify the columnist's name, although Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote the story in question on Embiid, referencing his late-brother Arthur before eventually retracting that part of his story:
Hayes later apologized:
So, I rewrote the lede to my column and replaced the picture. I can see why so many people were upset about it. Sorry about that.
— Marcus Hayes (@inkstainedretch) October 23, 2024
Thanks for all of the constructive criticism. https://t.co/GE8xIHc22z
Embiid — noting that Hayes wasn't present — took aim at the columnist at practice Friday afternoon:
“I’ve done way too much for this fucking city to be treated like this.”
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) November 1, 2024
Video: @PompeyOnSixers
pic.twitter.com/fODlo6ZDJx
This is a developing story that will be updated as more details come in...
