Sixers center Joel Embiid has been suspended three games by the NBA, officially ruling him out for the Lakers’ game on Friday.
While few things are going right for the Lakers as they wrap up their current road trip, their return to Los Angeles officially got a bit easier.
On Tuesday afternoon, the NBA announced that Joel Embiid would be suspended for three games following an altercation with a reporter after Philadelphia’s game on Saturday.
League statement on the matter: “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." pic.twitter.com/lBnP5XEZAG
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) November 5, 2024
In case you missed the drama of the weekend, Embiid took exception to a column from a reporter in Philadelphia. After the Sixers’ game against the Grizzlies on Saturday, Embiid confronted the reporter in the locker room and a verbal altercation eventually turned into a physical one.
“You can say I suck, you can say whatever you want about me as a player. Don’t ever put my dead brother’s name in your mouth,” @KyleNeubeck describes Joel Embiid altercation with journalist https://t.co/CIorWx3NV7 pic.twitter.com/dIsDDaULZz
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 3, 2024
While Embiid has yet to play a game this season, he did appear pretty close to a return. Following the Sixers’ defeat to the Suns on Monday, Embiid was looking spry on the court after the game.
Bradley Beal playing defense on Joel Embiid who is shooting after the game ends pic.twitter.com/R297yAVqHa
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) November 5, 2024
Officially, though, this will rule out Embiid from playing the Lakers on Friday. Was he eyeing a return against the Lakers in Los Angeles? Well, if he was on the road trip with the team, it certainly feels like it was a possibility.
Nevertheless, though, with his suspension starting once he is medically cleared, there is no chance he plays the Lakers at week’s end. It’s a bullet dodged for the purple and gold, who need all the help they can get. And for a team with Anthony Davis’ status up in the air, it’s an even bigger stroke of good fortune.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.
