Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid reportedly pushed a columnist from the Philadelphia Inquirer in the team’s locker room on Saturday night, as confirmed by multiple sources to The Athletic. The incident occurred after a heated exchange between Embiid and the columnist, Marcus Hayes, following Philadelphia’s 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Hayes, a veteran columnist for the Inquirer and previously the Philadelphia Daily News, recently published an article that Embiid felt was personally offensive to him and his family, a sentiment he shared with reporters after Friday’s practice. Embiid remarked that he had “done way too much for this f—–g city to be treated like this.”

The column in question, dated October 23, referenced Embiid’s son and his brother, Arthur, who tragically died in a car accident at the age of 13 in 2014—a loss that Embiid has said nearly led him to leave basketball. Embiid’s son, who is now four years old, is named Arthur in honor of his late brother.

This season, which the team has started with a 1-4 record in the absence of Embiid and fellow star Paul George, has yet to see Embiid on the court. Hayes was present at Saturday’s game and entered the locker room afterward. Embiid confronted him, and their conversation quickly escalated.

According to a team source, Hayes did not retaliate when Embiid pushed him.

An NBA spokesperson acknowledged the incident on Saturday, stating, “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.”

Embiid’s health and availability have been ongoing concerns for the Sixers and the seven-time All-Star, who has suffered postseason injuries in recent years—a major reason the franchise has yet to advance past the second round during his tenure. To address this, Embiid and the 76ers have considered a plan where he plays fewer games to stay healthier for the playoffs.

In February, Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee, missing a significant part of the 2023-24 season. He returned for a playoff series against the New York Knicks, visibly struggling throughout. The Knicks won in six games. Embiid appeared healthy when he played as Team USA’s starting center in the Paris Olympics this summer. However, minor knee swelling was detected during Sixers training camp, and he has not played since.

Hayes has written a series of critical columns about Embiid over the past week, faulting him for poor conditioning and frequent absences since joining the team. “The degree of contempt Embiid has for his organization, for his industry, and, especially, for the fans who pay him all of his money is utterly flabbergasting,” Hayes wrote on October 23. He argued that Embiid’s actions fail to honor the fans’ financial and emotional investment.

In earlier versions of his column, Hayes had written that Embiid “often says he wants to leave a legacy for his son, Arthur, named after his younger brother who died tragically in an automobile accident when Embiid was a rookie.” That paragraph was later removed from the online column.

In a recent column, Hayes argued that the Sixers should offer refunds to fans who purchased tickets in good faith, only to learn that Embiid might miss several games this season due to injury management.

On Friday, Hayes again questioned Embiid’s commitment after Embiid responded to his criticisms, saying he had “done way too much for this f—–g city to be treated like this.”

Acknowledging Embiid’s MVP award and impact on the franchise, Hayes conceded that Embiid “might wind up as the best player in franchise history.” However, Hayes pointed out that Embiid has yet to lead his teams beyond the second round of the playoffs and urged him to be better conditioned for the postseason to handle injuries more effectively.

Embiid, now in his 10th season with the Sixers, was drafted third overall in 2014. After missing his first two seasons due to foot injuries and surgeries, he became the face of Philadelphia’s rebuilding project, often referred to as “The Process.” Over eight seasons, he has averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game but has been plagued by recurring injuries, particularly to his lower body.

Recently, the NBA fined the Sixers $100,000 for what it described as “inconsistent” statements regarding Embiid’s health status, including the decision to rest him during a nationally televised game against Milwaukee on October 23. Although the league confirmed concerns about Embiid’s knee stability, they penalized the team for its public statements rather than for the decision itself.