NBA to Investigate Shoving Incident Between Joel Embiid and Philadelphia Columnist

The Sixers' ugly start to the season carried over into the locker room after their 124-107 blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

According to reports Sixers center Joel Embiid, who has yet to appear in a game this season, approached Philadelphia Inquire columnist Marcus Hayes about a piece he wrote for the paper on Oct 23 with a physical altercation occurring.

The article written by Hayes references Embiid’s son and his brother, Arthur, who died in a car crash in 2014.

Embiid approached Hayes and shoved him, leading to an investigation by the NBA .

Get our free mobile app

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

The incident is part of an ugly start to the season on the floor for the team, which is playing without Embiid and free agent addition Paul George, neither has appeared in a game for the team, which dropped to 1-4 on the season.

Embiid met with the media on Friday and stated that he has "done way too much for this city," responding to a Hayes piece that suggested Embiid doesn't want to play or wants to play on his terms.

The former NBA MVP mentioned his various injuries and how he has returned to the floor earlier than he should have to try to help the team win, even if he wasn't at full health, putting him at risk for further injury.

The Sixers will head out west for a tough west coast road trip, which begins on Monday night in Phoneix against the Suns.