Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has found himself embroiled in controversy at the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. Following a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Embiid got into a heated altercation with Philadelphia newspaper columnist Marcus Hayes in the locker room. The incident stemmed from a recent column where Hayes questioned Embiid’s professionalism, effort, and fitness following the Paris Olympics. The column also mentioned Embiid’s late brother and his son, both named Arthur. Embiid confronted Hayes as players and media entered the locker room, warning him to refrain from mentioning his family again.
During the confrontation, Embiid expressed his anger at Hayes for bringing up his deceased brother and son, stating that he would take action if it happened again. Despite Hayes offering an apology, Embiid was not appeased, emphasizing that this was not the first instance of disrespect. The situation escalated when Embiid raised his voice and physically pushed Hayes, with a team representative and security personnel attempting to intervene. The incident unfolded in front of members of the media, with a team security person reportedly asking them not to report on what had transpired.
In a previous column, Hayes had criticized Embiid for his perceived lack of respect towards the 76ers and the game of basketball. He suggested that the team should consider providing refunds to fans when Embiid does not play. Embiid responded to these criticisms during a practice session, expressing frustration at how he was being treated despite his efforts to return to the court. He asserted that he was dedicated to doing whatever it takes to get back to playing and felt unfairly judged by the media.
Despite the altercation, Hayes did not react publicly to the incident involving Embiid. It was reported that the NBA was investigating the altercation between Embiid and Hayes in the locker room. The tense exchange highlighted the ongoing tension between the star player and the media, as Embiid felt he was being unfairly targeted and disrespected in the press. The incident underscored the challenges faced by athletes dealing with media scrutiny and the pressure of performing at a high level in professional sports. The aftermath of the altercation left the basketball world watching closely to see how the situation would be resolved and its implications on Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers’ season.
