The NBA says it’s investigating after Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid had an alleged bodily altercation with a reporter.
Embiid confronted the reporter within the Philadelphia locker room about an article that referred to his son and late brother, in addition to criticising his health and professionalism.
The seven-time NBA All-Star and 2023 Most Precious Participant has but to play this season due to a knee subject.
The incident occurred after the 76ers’ 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
“The subsequent time you carry up my useless brother and my son once more, you’ll see what I will do to you and I will must reside with the results,” Embiid is reported to have mentioned.
Because the altercation continued Embiid, 30, is then alleged to have pushed the reporter on the shoulder earlier than a Sixers official acquired between the pair.
Embiid had talked about the article in query throughout a information convention on Friday.
“After I see individuals saying ‘he does not need to play’ – I’ve executed means an excessive amount of for this metropolis, placing myself in danger, for individuals to be saying that,” he mentioned.
In a press release, the NBA mentioned: “We’re conscious of stories of an incident within the Sixers locker room this night and are commencing an investigation.”
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey advised ESPN the membership has additionally launched an investigation and takes the state of affairs “very severely”.