"There was a line crossed" - Lou Williams makes feelings clear about Joel Embiid's three-game suspension for shoving reporter
Former NBA player Lou Williams made his feelings clear on the Joel Embiid controversy during the latest episode of "Run it Back" on FanDuel TV.
On Saturday, Philadelphia 76ers star player Joel Embiid was involved in an altercation with a basketball columnist after he used Embiid's son and late brother in his article.
The 2023 MVP reportedly shoved the columnist and is now facing the consequences of his actions. The league took action on Embiid and has decided to suspend the big man without pay.
Michelle Beadle from "Run it Back" asked her co-hosts Lou Williams and Chandler Parson about their opinions on Embiid's suspension and the former Hawks guard had a ready response.
"It's a non-issue for me. There was a disagreement. There was a line crossed. There was a shove. A point was made. Consequences were accepted, a lesson was learned and a boundary was set. Joel Embiid took responsibility for his actions. The team issued an apology, you hadn't seen either of the actual parties involved say anything about it and that's it, let's get back to hoop," Williams said.
Candler Parsons also agreed with Williams' statement and highlighted that Embiid's suspension was issued when it didn't make any difference. The Sixers' big man is out of action with a left knee injury and hasn't made his debut in the 2024-25 season yet.
Complete details of Joel Embiid's suspension for altercation with a columnist
The NBA announced on Tuesday that Joel Embiid would be suspended for the next three games without pay because of his altercation with a media professional. League executive Joe Dumars announced the suspension and expressed his views in a press release.
"Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Dumars said. “While 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."
As per the Guardian, the three-game absence will cost the Sixers' big man roughly $1 million from the $51.4 million he is set to earn this season. The altercation between Embiid and columnist Marcus Hayes from the Inquires escalated on Saturday in the locker room after the 76ers lost 124-107 to the Grizzlies.
Joel Embiid was very clear to Hayes on using his son or late brother again in an article in the future.
"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," Embiid said.
Hayes reportedly offered an apology to the Sixers' big man but he refused to accept it, pointing out that it was not the first time Hayes had gone after his family.