The Philadelphia 76ers have had a rough start to the 2024-25 season, winning just one of their first five contests after losing today’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. But something very, very bad may have just happened involving Sixers megastar Joel Embiid.
Taking to X, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Embiid assaulted a reporter in the locker room after their 124-107 loss tonight. When pressed in the comments to clarify, Pompey stated point-blank that Embiid punched someone. However, Pompey soon deleted that second message.
“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,” Pompey wrote on X.
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
It’s only been a few minutes, so there haven’t been any corroborating sources to Pompey’s claim. But if it’s true, Embiid is going to be in far more trouble than we can imagine.
Fans were stunned by Pompey’s allegation:
“what do those last 9 words say?” one stunned fan replied.
“Going to need a follow up here,” another wrote.
“Can you give us more details than this?” wrote a third.
However, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported a few minutes later that Embiid shoved a reporter that had referenced his brother and son – both of whom had passed away – in a recent column, but stated that he did NOT punch him.
“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,” Charania wrote.
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
Joel Embiid has yet to make his debut in this 2024-25 season as he continues to battle a slew of lingering injuries. When healthy, he ranks among the best players in the NBA – someone who has averaged 27.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in 433 career games.
Whether fans feel Embiid was justified in shoving someone or not, he’s likely going to face a punishment from the NBA over it. There’s a good chance that even when feels healthy enough to play, he won’t be able to.
Related: Joel Embiid Is Getting Ripped For ‘Dirty’ Foul Against The Knicks