NEW YORK, NOV 6 – Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games without fine for pushing a reporter, the NBA announced yesterday.
The incident took place between the Cameroon-born player and a columnist from the Philadelphia Inquirer who recently wrote an op-ed critical of the player, who referred to Embiid’s son and late brother.
“Mutual respect is essential in the relationship between players and the media in the NBA,” said the league’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars in a statement.
“While we understand that Joel was offended by the personal content in the original version of the reporter’s writing, the interaction should remain professional on both sides and should not become physical,” the league said.
The league said Embiid’s suspension will begin with the next regular season game ‘in which he is eligible and able to play’.
Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player who also played on this year’s gold medal-winning United States Olympic squad, has missed all six of Philadelphia’s games so far this season as he rehabs his left knee following surgery.
In his absence, the 76ers started the season with a 1-5 record, including a painful 118-116 loss to the Suns recently. – AFP
