The Philadelphia 76ers made moves in July by extending Tyrese Maxey’s contract and signing Paul George to support All-Star center Joel Embiid. However, a disappointing 1-4 start filled with various issues was not anticipated.

Now, five games into the season, the 76ers are in the news, but not for positive reasons. Neither George nor Embiid has participated in any games, and Embiid could face suspension after an incident involving a confrontation with a sports columnist in the Sixers’ locker room.

The 76ers must take responsibility for this situation.

On Saturday, Embiid engaged with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes after Hayes published a critical piece that mentioned Embiid’s late brother, Arthur, who passed away in 2014, as well as Embiid’s son, also named Arthur.

“Joel Embiid often credits the birth of his son, Arthur, as a turning point in his basketball journey,” wrote Hayes. “He expresses a desire to build a legacy for his son, named after his little brother, who was sadly killed in a car accident during Embiid’s rookie year.”

“To excel in your profession, you must show up for work. Embiid seems to excel at the opposite.”

It’s understandable that Embiid was upset, and following feedback, the references to his brother and son were taken out of the online version of the piece.

The NBA is currently looking into the incident. ESPN described it as a shove, while Philadelphia Inquirer basketball writer Gina Mizell reported that Embiid “struck and shoved” Hayes during a heated exchange filled with profanity.

Hayes stated that Daryl Morey, the 76ers’ president of basketball operations, and general manager Elton Brand “apologized for what happened, expressed their regret, and asked for my account of the situation. They acknowledged that Embiid’s actions were unacceptable.”

There were multiple factors that contributed to this incident, which could have been avoided. While Hayes shouldn’t have included Embiid’s brother and son in a critical column about Embiid’s attendance, it’s crucial that a player physically confronting a reporter is intolerable.

This aggression could have been prevented if the Sixers had been more transparent about Embiid’s knee injury, which would have provided reporters with the necessary context. This doesn’t shield Embiid from critique, but a clearer understanding shapes more informed public opinions. (Embiid has faced ongoing injury challenges and only managed to play 39 games last season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee.)

Last week, the Sixers were fined $100,000 for breaching the league’s player participation rules, with the league confirming Embiid has a “left knee condition,” suggesting the team has not been truthful about his injury status.

Additionally, the Sixers suggesting that Embiid, who has a history of injuries, shouldn’t play in back-to-back games didn’t help. Although they might have been trying to protect him, their actions proved counterproductive. There is no evidence to suggest that Embiid is reluctant to play; given his size and style of play, it’s not surprising he has knee issues.

The Sixers could have also taken proactive steps toward conflict resolution, considering that Embiid was clearly upset with the column and that Hayes was present in the arena.

“If you mention my deceased brother and my son again, you’ll see the consequences, and I will have to live with it,” Embiid reportedly warned Hayes.

According to reports, a team security officer requested that journalists refrain from writing about the altercation.

One poor decision led to another.

Now, the Sixers might find themselves without Embiid for an extended period.