Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was reportedly caught in a heated argument, that turned physical, with a journalist over the weekend.

At the start of the season, columnist Marcus Hayes wrote a piece questioning Embiid’s intention to play and his injury. In the article, he referenced Embiid’s late brother and his son while questioning the magnitude of his injury.

Embiid has been struggling with injury this offseason and has had to sit out the opening weeks of the 2024-2025 NBA season. The Sixers have struggled at the start of the season as both their star players, Joel Embiid and Paul George, are out due to injuries.

After the Sixers loss to the Gizzlies on Sunday, Embiid confronted Marcus Hayes as reporters came into the locker room to interview players.

“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,” said the 2022 NBA MVP.

When Hayes offered an apology, Embiid continued to use swear words and raised his voice, saying “this wasn’t the first time”. Embiid then proceeded to push the reporter, and that’s when a member of the team’s PR team got in between.

A security personnel asked the reporters not to report the incident, and Embiid responded, “They can do whatever they want; I don’t give a shit.”

Following that, Hayes claimed he was led to a meeting with general manager Elton Brand and Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. According to Hayes, Morey and Brand “asked me for my version of events, apologised for the incident, and expressed regret that it happened.” They concurred that Embiid’s behaviour was intolerable.

The league has launched an inquiry into the incident, and it will be interesting to see what punishment Adam Silver (NBA commissioner) will hand down.

NBA journalists’ reactions

But according to ESPN Australia’s Steve Smith, Hayes crossed the line when he touched on Embiid’s family. “Not hard to see why Joel was upset. Criticise his performances and his availability or lack thereof but this absolutely crossed the line.”

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic said: “My take is simple: don’t bring up a dude’s family to take a shot at him for being hurt.”

Barstool’s Dan Katz wrote: “After reading the article I think Joel Embiid is 100 per cent innocent and should be commended for the shove (no punch).”