Joel Embiid confronts and shoves Philadelphia columnist

PHILADELPHIA – Joel Embiid was involved in an altercation with a local columnist in the locker room after the 76ers’ 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, yelling at him during an exchange before ultimately shoving him.

“We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are conducting an investigation,” an NBA spokesman said in a statement.

Embiid criticized a recent column by Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. In it, Hayes mentioned Embiid’s son and his late brother – both named Arthur – while also questioning Embiid’s professionalism and effort to stay in shape.

As reporters entered the locker room to speak with the players, Embiid stood up and confronted Hayes.

“The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you’ll see what I’m going to do to you, and I’m going to have to… live with the consequences,” Embiid told Hayes.

Embiid continued with several instances of foul language. Hayes apologized, but Embiid didn’t want to. “This isn’t the first time,” Embiid said.

Embiid later said he didn’t care what reporters said. “But you do,” Hayes replied.

Embiid appeared to raise his voice at that point and soon squeezed Hayes on the shoulder as the team’s public relations director stepped between them. Another team official moved Tyrese Maxey’s interview to the hallway outside the locker room to try to drive reporters out of the locker room.

At the same time, a team security official asked reporters not to cover the incident. Embiid yelled at the security guard.

“They can do whatever they want,” Embiid said. “I don’t give a shit.”

76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps that the team was aware of the incident.

“We are taking the situation very seriously and are investigating it and have already spoken with the NBA,” Morey said in a statement.

Embiid did not play in Saturday’s game, the fifth straight game he was sidelined with a left knee injury early in the season. Both he and Paul George, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee while kicking awkwardly in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 14, have yet to play for the 76ers (1-4) this season.

Embiid spoke to reporters for the first time in several weeks after practice at the team facility on Friday and expressed frustration over not wanting to play.

“Everyone agreed,” Embiid said of his recovery plan. “If your body isn’t responding well and your body is telling you one thing (sit out). I did it. As far as I can tell you, I broke my face twice, I came back early with the risk of losing my vision. When I see people say, “He doesn’t want to play,” I’ve done way too much for this city and put myself at risk to say that.

Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee after suffering an injury in January, which limited him to playing in 39 games last season. He then returned in April, played in Philadelphia’s six-game first-round loss to the New York Knicks and then helped Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics this summer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.