Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid found himself at the center of a heated locker room incident, but this time, he’s got rare support from those close to him. The reigning MVP recently faced backlash after a reported altercation with columnist Marcus Hayes, sparking media buzz across platforms. According to Shams Charania, Embiid allegedly shoved Hayes in the Sixers locker room after Hayes made sensitive remarks referencing Embiid’s late brother and son in a column.
The incident quickly circulated, casting a shadow over Embiid’s image. However, in an unexpected show of support, Sixers forward Nicolas Batum’s wife, Lily Batum, stepped in on social media. In a powerful post, she criticized the media for crossing personal boundaries and defended Embiid’s reaction. “Attacking a player through the deceased relative’s card and being surprised by the reaction…. Come on! The journalist knew what he was doing. Violence doesn’t solve anything, but some people should avoid pushing people into that area.” she wrote, adding the hashtag #FreeEmbiid.
Shortly after, the Sixers’ official X account also responded with a quote from Embiid addressing Hayes: “The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to… live with the consequences.”
Fans and media have been keeping the pressure on Embiid, who has yet to play this season following his time with Team France at the Paris Olympics. Amid the pressure, the Sixers family’s support may have helped prevent a full-scale media frenzy around the incident. Embiid also addressed critics, citing past injuries and sacrifices for the team, saying, “From what I can tell you, I’ve broken my face twice. I came back early with the risk of losing my vision. I have broken fingers. I still came back. When I see people say he doesn’t want to play, I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk for people to be saying that.”
In positive news for Sixers fans, Embiid has reportedly begun participating in full practice and 5-on-5 scrimmages, raising hopes for his return. With eyes on a potential MVP season, fans are eager to see their star back on the court. Will Embiid claim the MVP title this season? Share your thoughts in the comments!
