Sixers’ Joel Embiid allegedly gets into physical altercation with reporter

UPDATE, Nov 2, 11:30 pm ET: The NBA is aware of the incident and “are beginning an investigation,” according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

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The Sixers’ season is off to a tumultuous start to say the least.

With stars Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined for the first five games of the season, the team is 1-4 following an ugly 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night. The odd handling of Embiid’s situation has done little to quell concerns.

Things evidently came to a head postgame as Embiid and a reporter got into a physical altercation in the locker room following the game. According to multiple reporters covering on the scene, the reporter was longtime Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. (To clarify: there was a report that a punch was thrown. The latest updates indicate Embiid shoved Hayes.)

Embiid did share his discontent with a column recently written by Hayes. In the piece, Hayes questioned Embiid’s desire to play while evoking the former MVP’s young son, Arthur, and his late brother, also named Arthur. The main image of the column was of Embiid holding his son. Eventually, the picture was changed, and Hayes edited the story while issuing an apology on X.

After practice Friday, Embiid called Hayes out by name, saying the column was “bullshit.”

Kyle Neubeck of PHLY added a bit more context:

Both Embiid and George were able to participate fully at practice Friday, including 5-on-5 scrimmaging. They appear to be nearing their debuts as the team heads out to the West Coast for games against the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s fair to wonder what will come of this incident. The league will reportedly investigate what happened, an unfortunate norm for the Sixers these days.