Everything We Know About Joel Embiid Allegedly Shoving Marcus Hayes

The Sixers lost 124-107 to the Memphis Grizzles Saturday night, but the results of the game had about a half hour shelf life.

That’s because Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer relayed on X that after the game, Joel Embiid — who has yet to appear for the Sixers this season — “assaulted a reporter.”

Oh, boy, people will remember the Sixers season for all the wrong reasons. The team just dropped to 1-4 and Joel Embiid assaulted a reporter in the locker room.

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 3, 2024

In a since-deleted response on X, Pompey initially said that Embiid punched said reporter:

However, ESPN‘s Shams Charania hears that Joel Embiid got into a postgame altercation with a columnist following the loss, but says it was a shove, not a punch:

76ers’ Joel Embiid got in an altercation with a columnist following tonight’s game in Philadelphia. Embiid took issue with a recent column that referenced his late brother and son, and Embiid shoved the columnist. No punch.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 3, 2024

Charania has since reported that the NBA is investigating the incident:

NBA spokesman tells ESPN: “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.” https://t.co/mfv4sfNm7r

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 3, 2024

Pompey later added this tweet. It’s unclear why he put “shoved” in quotes:

The reporter was “shoved” by Embiid.

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 3, 2024

Kyle Neubeck of PHLY was present in the locker room and offered this recap of the events that took place:

Joel Embiid to Marcus Hayes:

“You can say I suck, you can say whatever you want about me as a player.

Video: @PHLY_Sports
pic.twitter.com/yxAbiMzrJD

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) November 3, 2024

Charania’s report does not specify the columnist’s name, although Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote the story in question on Embiid, referencing his late-brother Arthur before eventually retracting that part of his story:

Hayes later apologized:

So, I rewrote the lede to my column and replaced the picture. I can see why so many people were upset about it. Sorry about that.

Thanks for all of the constructive criticism. https://t.co/GE8xIHc22z

— Marcus Hayes (@inkstainedretch) October 23, 2024

Embiid — noting that Hayes wasn’t present — took aim at the columnist at practice Friday afternoon:

“I’ve done way too much for this fucking city to be treated like this.”

Video: @PompeyOnSixers

pic.twitter.com/fODlo6ZDJx

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) November 1, 2024