Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games without pay for shoving a member of the media. The NBA announced that Embiid's suspension will commence with the next regular-season game for which he is eligible and able to participate. Embiid has not yet played for the Sixers this season due to what the team refers to as left knee management. According to ESPN, the suspension will result in the 30-year-old, who was set to earn $51.4 million in salary this season, losing over $1 million in pay. Embiid's altercation with a Philadelphia newspaper columnist in the locker room on Saturday night led to the incident. "Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA," stated Joe Dumars, the NBA's head of basketball operations. "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." Embiid took exception to Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who had mentioned the All-Star center's late brother and his son, both named Arthur, in columns that questioned Embiid's professionalism and effort after playing in the Paris Olympics for Team USA. When reporters entered the locker room to interview players on Saturday, Embiid stood up and confronted Hayes. "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 told Hayes. Embiid continued, using profanity multiple times. Hayes attempted to apologize, but Embiid refused. "That's not the fucking first time," Embiid said. A team security member requested the media not to report on the incident. Embiid then shouted over the security guard, "They can do whatever they want. I don’t give a shit."
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