30-year-old Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid found himself at the center of controversy following an incident with referee Jenna Schroeder during a game against the San Antonio Spurs, which ended in a 116-106 victory for the 76ers. In the second quarter, Embiid displayed aggression toward the referee both before and after being ejected from the court.
According to sources from DailyMail.com, NBA leadership is considering imposing significant fines and even a temporary suspension on Embiid. This season, the player’s emotional state has been described as unstable: he has participated in only eight games due to injuries, suspensions, and a controversial team strategy that allowed him to rest during back-to-back games.
One source stated: “Although the referee does not need special protection, the NBA intends to take serious action against Embiid, who has been in emotional disarray throughout the season. This is just another escalation.” It has also been suggested that the 76ers might recommend the player undergo anger management courses or temporarily remove him from the team.
However, a team representative told DailyMail.com that these claims are unfounded, noting that the likelihood of Embiid being removed is low. There is also the possibility that the league will deem the ejection from the court sufficient punishment, considering there was no physical contact with referee Schroeder, who reportedly expressed no concern about the incident.
Earlier this season, Embiid already faced disciplinary action: he was suspended for three games following a physical altercation with a journalist. Despite the team’s recent improved results (7 wins and 3 losses after starting 3-14), the 76ers management’s patience with their star center’s behavior is wearing thin.
Joel Embiid, a native of Yaoundé, Cameroon, was born on March 16, 1994. In 2014, he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the third overall pick in the NBA Draft. Over his career, Embiid has been a seven-time NBA All-Star and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2023.
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