Joel Embiid, star center of the Philadelphia 76ers, physically confronted Marcus Hayes, a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, in the team’s locker room, after losing to the Memphis Grizzlies. Related to a column Hayes wrote that Embiid found hurtful to himself and his family, this happened after Philadelphia’s loss on Saturday. Hayes had referenced Embiid’s 13-year-old-brother, Arthur, killed in a car accident in 2014, leading Embiid to almost quit basketball. Arthur is also the name of Embiid’s son.
The argument happened after the game, during which Embiid did not play, due to the team’s poor start (1-4) this season without him and star forward Paul George. An NBA spokesman said they were aware of the incident and that an investigation was underway. Embiid’s health has been the subject of much discussion and has caused frustration for the team and the seven-time All-Star, as his injuries over the years contributed to the team’s inability to get past the second round of the playoffs during his tenure.
Embiid had knee surgery in February, which led him to miss much of the previous season, returning for a first-round playoff series in which the Knicks won. Despite this, Embiid represented Team USA at the Olympics that summer, showing no signs of injury. However, inflammation was found in his knee during 76ers training camp, causing him to be placed on hold again.
Hayes had written several critical pieces about Embiid, focusing on the player’s lack of conditioning ahead of the season, despite playing at the Olympics. Furthermore, Hayes also criticized Embiid’s numerous absences. In one piece, Hayes expressed his shock at Embiid’s apparent contempt for his organization, his perceived dereliction of duty, and the disrespect shown towards the fans who fund his income. In earlier versions of the piece, Hayes had also mentioned how the birth of Embiid’s son Arthur was a turning point in his career.
On Wednesday, after the NBA fined the 76ers for “inconsistent” statements about Embiid’s health, Hayes was critical again. He suggested that fans who purchased tickets expecting to see Embiid, who might miss several games to avoid back-to-back matches, should be reimbursed. In a follow-up piece, Hayes stated that Embiid would possibly miss 25% of home games. He also noted that since being drafted by the Sixers, Embiid has missed 46% of regular-season games.
Embiid, in his 10th season with the Sixers, has become the face of the controversial rebuilding plan the Sixers pursued known as “The Process.” Despite lower body injuries late in regular seasons or during playoffs, Embiid has averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 433 regular-season games. The NBA fined the 76ers for misleading statements about Embiid’s condition, and although potential fines could have been more severe if it had been found that the Sixers were resting him despite being healthy, it was confirmed that there were genuine concerns about his left knee.
