NBA Superstar Joel Embiid Reportedly Shoves Columnist in Heated Locker Room Altercation
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Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid reportedly shoved a sportswriter in a heated altercation over a column the writer had penned which referenced his son and late brother.
According to the AP and other reports, Embiid confronted the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Marcus Hayes over a column he’d written in which he questioned Embiid’s commitment to the game. In the Oct. 23 column, Hayes wrote, “Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er. Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite.”
Embiid reportedly confronted Hayes on Saturday night in the 76ers locker room.
“The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to … live with the consequences,” Embiid said, according to the AP.
Hayes reportedly offered an apology, which Embiid rejected.
“That’s not the f*cking first time,” Embiid reportedly said.
Embiid then reportedly pushed Hayes on the shoulder as a public relations staffer from the team broke them up. An NBA spokesperson told multiple outlets, “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.”
The 76ers star sounded off at Hayes in a news conference earlier this week.
“When I see people saying, he doesn’t want to play, I’ve done way too much for this city putting myself at risk for people to be saying that,” Embiid said. “I do think it’s bullshit. Like that dude, he’s not here, Marcus, I’ve done way too much for this fucking city to be treated like this.”
Watch above.
