Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended three games without pay for shoving a member of the media, the NBA announced Tuesday.

Embiid, who has yet to play this season due to “left knee injury management,” shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes following the Sixers’ 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center. Embiid was upset that Hayes had written a column referencing his late brother, Arthur, and his son, also named Arthur.

“Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” NBA executive vice president Joe 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.”

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Embiid’s suspension will commence with the next NBA regular season game for which he is eligible and able to play.

Embiid confronted Hayes in the locker room, telling him, “The next time you bring up 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.”

About 90 seconds to two minutes after Embiid verbally confronted Hayes, the former NBA MVP “shoved him” and “team security stepped in,” according to Kyle Neubeck, a Sixers beat writer who was in the locker room.

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.