NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was suspended by the NBA on Tuesday for three games without pay for Shoving a member of the media..

Embiid’s suspension will begin with the next NBA regular season game for which he is eligible and able to play. He has yet to play this season with what the 76ers call left knee management.

Embiid yelled and eventually shoved a Philadelphia newspaper columnist in a locker room altercation Saturday night.

“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between NBA players and media,” NBA executive Joe Dumars said in a statement announcing the suspension. “While we understand that Joel was offended by the personal nature of the journalist’s original version of the column, the interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never become physical.”

Embiid took issue with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who mentioned the All-Star center’s late brother and his son, both named Arthur, in columns that questioned Embiid’s professionalism and effort for not being in shape after playing in the Paris Olympic Games.

When reporters entered the locker room to talk to the players, Embiid stood up and faced Hayes.

“Next time you mention my dead brother and my son again, you’re going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to…live with the consequences,” Embiid told Hayes. .

Embiid continued, with several instances of profanity in the following sentences. Hayes offered an apology, which Embiid declined. “That’s not the fucking first time.” Embiid said.

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