Joel Embiid shoves reporter in heated altercation over column referencing his son and late brother

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Joel Embiid has had enough of the Philly media. The Sixers’ superstar reportedly had a tense altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes after a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

According to the Associated Press, Embiid confronted Hayes in the locker room over a recent column that touched on some personal territory — including his late brother and young son.

Joel Embiid confronts reporter

The confrontation wasn’t just a quick exchange. Joel Embiid went right up to Hayes, visibly upset, and made it clear he didn’t appreciate the column’s tone or subject matter.

“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,” he allegedly told Hayes.

This wasn’t just a heat-of-the-moment thing, either—Embiid’s anger seemed pretty deep-seated. He reportedly kept the conversation going and tossed in some choice words along the way. Hayes even offered to apologize, but Embiid wasn’t having it. “That’s not the f*****g first time,” he shot back.

It didn’t end there. The situation got a little more physical. When Embiid said that he doesn't care what reporters say, Hayes responded, "But you do." This pissed Embiid off even more and he reportedly got louder, pushing Hayes on the shoulder while a member of the Sixers’ PR team stepped in to calm things down.

After a team security official asked media members to keep the incident under wraps, Embiid declared: "They can do whatever they want, I don’t give a s**t.”

With word of the scuffle quickly spreading, the NBA’s already announced an investigation. A spokesperson told The Athletic’s Sam Amick, “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.”

What set Joel Embiid off

So, what exactly did Hayes write to push Joel Embiid over the edge? Hayes’s column wasn’t exactly a glowing review. He questioned Embiid’s dedication to the game and even suggested that Sixers fans should get a refund when Embiid doesn’t play.

"Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career," Hayes' column from October read. "He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er."

But in the next breath, Hayes wrote: "Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite. Now in his 11th season, he consistently has been in poor condition. This poor conditioning apparently seems to have delayed his debut this season."

Just before this locker room blowup, Embiid went on a mini-rant about the criticism he’s been facing from Philly media, especially from Hayes. “When I see people say ‘he does not wanna play,’ I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk for people to be saying that. I do think this is bulls**t,” he said.

And he didn’t stop there. "Like that dude, he's not here, Marcus, I've done way too much for this f*****g city to be treated like this. Done way too f*****g much. I wish I was as lucky as the other ones, but that does not mean I'm not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I'm gonna be," Embiid added.

The timing of all this is quite notable. The NBA just fined the Sixers $100,000 because of inconsistent messaging about Embiid’s health after he missed the season opener. So for Embiid, the digs about him not wanting to play probably feel even more personal right now.

A tense season ahead for Joel Embiid and the Sixers

With the NBA investigation looming, this locker room dust-up just adds to the tension in what’s already shaping up to be a complicated season for Joel Embiid. He’s only a few weeks into a new $193 million contract extension — and fan expectations are through the roof.

But with his ongoing health issues, some fans are starting to get frustrated with his absences—and the criticism from the media is only amplifying the scrutiny he’s under.

It's worth noting that when Embiid is healthy, he’s a game-changer. This summer, he helped Team USA grab a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. And his stats speak for themselves: MVP last year, multiple All-Star appearances, scoring titles — you name it.

Still, for some Philly fans, none of that seems to matter if he isn’t playing consistently.