Former Kansas center Joel Embiid suspended by NBA for shoving media member

PHILADELPHIA (KCTV) - Former Kansas center Joel Embiid has been suspended three games by the NBA for shoving a member of the media.

The NBA’s Executive VP, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced the suspension.

Embiid’'s actions came Saturday night in the Philadelphia 76ers locker room after the team’s 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Dumars said. “While we understand Joel was offended by the personal nature of the original version of the reporter’s column, interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical.”

The league said Embiid’s suspension will begin for the next NBA regular season game in which he is eligible and able to play. The former Kansas big man, who played for the Jayhawks during the 2013-14 college basketball season, has yet to play during the 2024-25 NBA season as a result of a knee injury.

Embiid shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes after a piece Hayes wrote criticized him personally.

The 30-year-old center played for the United States men’s national team in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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