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Every team plays tonight, with the NBA taking Election Day off tomorrow. So, if you’re looking for some exciting hoops action, literally every option is available to you.

Pushed Too Far

What Embiid allegedly did and what’s next

Last Friday, Joel Embiid addressed the Philadelphia media after an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer criticized him for missing so many games in his career. Embiid was clearly fed up, saying he’s done too much for the city to be treated like this. The 2022-23 MVP still hasn’t made his debut this season and has missed 373 of 801 (46.5 percent) regular-season games in his career. And, well, it feels like he’s about to miss some more after what happened Saturday night.

Following another 76ers loss, beat writer Keith Pompey tweeted out: “Oh, boy, people will remember the Sixers season for all the wrong reasons. The team just dropped to 1-4 and Joel Embiid assaulted a reporter in the locker room.” Needless to say, this got the internet’s attention … especially when another (quickly deleted) tweet by Pompey said Embiid “punched” the reporter. Turns out it wasn’t a punch, though. It was allegedly a push of the shoulder by Embiid.

The reporter in question is Marcus Hayes, also of the Philadelphia Inquirer. And the 30-year-old Embiid took umbrage with the original lede to this article:

“Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76ers. 

“Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite.”

Yikes. So, what all happened? This is what we know, thanks to some reporting from various outlets:

• Embiid confronted Hayes once he was aware he was in the locker room following the game, via Kyle Neubeck.
• There was a lot of profanity being thrown around, and Embiid said, “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.”
• Hayes offered up an apology, and Embiid refused it.
• Embiid said he doesn’t care what the media says about him, to which Hayes replied, “But you do,” per the Associated Press.
• Embiid then pushed Hayes’ shoulder, and Sixers team PR staff stepped between them.
• A team security person asked the media in the locker room not to report on what happened. Embiid said he didn’t care if they did.
• The NBA has launched an investigation. Philadelphia president of basketball ops Daryl Morey stated the team has spoken to the NBA.

The NBA is now in a very interesting position.

My take? I think what Hayes wrote in the original lede to his article is out of line. It didn’t add anything of substance. Writing an article about whether Embiid plays enough is perfectly fine. Using his family (especially his late brother) isn’t necessary in the slightest to make that point. A verbal confrontation between the two after the game is more than acceptable. That’s part of the job. You opine on something, and players have the right to discuss that with you – even if it’s an aggressive or uncomfortable discussion. Embiid took it too far once it became physical, and the threat given during that argument is something the NBA should take into consideration when deciding a punishment.

What can we expect the league to do about it? That’s the million-dollar question. Or a much greater amount of money, I should say. This is a very serious issue for commissioner Adam Silver and the league to adjudicate. Most infractions and suspensions in the NBA are designed to curb future behavior, as much as outright punish the player or team. That was the case when the league changed its policy in the 1990s to automatically suspend players who leave the bench in a dustup.

Players don’t really fight anymore because they don’t want to lose the money. Silver must now decide if this punishment is designed for Embiid’s infraction or as a message to players not to do this with the media. He’s typically favorable toward players but may have to be harsh.

The Last 24

Get ready for Paul George’s Sixers debut

🇲🇽 Adam Silver likes the idea of a team in Mexico City. It might be in the NBA’s next expansion plan. How likely is it?

🤡 You’ll never guess what Kevin Durant called Stephen A. Smith. (You probably can based on the emoji there.) KD is tired of leadership criticism. 

⭐ A revamped All-Star format? Stephen Curry is helping the league figure out how to make the game competitive. How do you make players care?

💪 Grant Williams got too physical with Jayson Tatum. He got ejected for hip-checking Tatum. And then things got weird. 

📺 Don’t miss this game tonight. It’s the 76ers at the Suns, as Paul George (potentially) makes his Sixers debut. We think? You never know with the Sixers at this point. Details! Tip-off is at 10:15 p.m. ET on NBA TV or on Fubo.

📺 Contrast of styles game! The Knicks are at the Rockets with the Knicks’ offense trying to solve the Rockets’ defense. 8:45 p.m. ET on League Pass.

Stock Report

Warriors are thriving without Steph Curry

We’re about two weeks into the 2024-25 season, and the NBA is as chaotic as I can remember. There has been excellent basketball to begin this season, and we’re enjoying some big-time surges. We’re also seeing some incredible collapses. It’s time to hit the NBA Stock Report for this week.

📈 Warriors (5-1): Stephen Curry went down with an ankle injury, and we expected the Warriors to falter while he’s out. Instead, they’re thriving! They’re playing weird ball, and it’s working, even when they blow a 31-point lead to Houston. The Warriors’ defense is back, and Steph is back soon, too.

📉 Magic (3-4): The Paolo Banchero injury puts a lot of cold water on the Magic for the near future. They hung tough against Cleveland and then got smacked by Dallas. I simply don’t know how they’re going to score consistently without Banchero.

📈 Kings: (3-3): Yes, they lost to Toronto in overtime, but the Kings have looked good this past week. The trio of DeMar DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis is clicking. Fox is playing with a hurt finger. And they just went 3-1 and should have gone 4-0.

📉 Bucks (1-5): The sky is falling? The Bucks continue to struggle, having lost to Boston, Memphis and Cleveland. They can’t defend anybody. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are playing well. And it doesn’t matter yet.

📈 Nets (3-4): They lost to Detroit yesterday, but the Nets are surprisingly good to start this season. Cam Thomas is fun, and this team’s offense is a pleasant surprise so far. Head coach Jordi Fernandez is doing a good job.

📉 Pelicans (3-4): They aren’t playing well, and the Pelicans are riddled with injuries. Zion Williamson (hamstring), Trey Murphy III (hamstring), CJ McCollum (adductor), Dejounte Murray (hand) and Herb Jones (shoulder) are all missing time. Get well, get well soon, we want you to get well!

From tip-off to the final buzzer, the squad put in WORK 💪 pic.twitter.com/fAbbU9ZlsX

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 3, 2024

Bench brought the ENERGY ⚡️@MichelobULTRA || Joy Cam pic.twitter.com/hhcuow8xQY

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 3, 2024

Vinsanity Forever

Drake made Vince Carter’s night about himself

The Toronto Raptors honored Vince Carter on Saturday night by making his No. 15 the first retired jersey in franchise history. It was an incredibly emotional and cool moment for Carter and extremely well done by the Raptors. Carter is a legend of the game of basketball, and so many current Canadian players credit Carter for igniting a passion for the sport within their country. (It wasn’t that long ago the Raptors fan base held strong contempt for Carter after he was traded from Toronto to New Jersey in 2004.) It’s also the greatest retired number banner of all time.

So, why was Drake the story of the night? Raptors global ambassador (whatever that means) Aubrey “Drake” Graham kind of ruined the night due to his own beefs, unrelated to Carter. The Raptors played the Kings that night in a thrilling 131-128 overtime win. Sacramento happens to be the latest team for former Raptors great DeMar DeRozan. Here’s a rundown of what happened:

There was a moment after the game when Drake muttered some choice words with DeRozan nearby. He wasn’t loud enough to actually be tough, though. It’s been a rough 2024 for Aubrey. The internet discussing his antics Saturday night instead of Vince’s great moment didn’t help that perception.

“He is a legend. He’s an icon. He’s half man half amazing.”

Masai Ujiri with the ultimate respect for @Raptors legend Vince Carter 🙏 pic.twitter.com/nyndD6nrtW

— NBA (@NBA) November 3, 2024

“We will always remember and honour your impact. Both on and off the court.”

– Larry Tanenbaum pic.twitter.com/QUqlkmxVNZ

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 3, 2024

People’s Champ 💜 pic.twitter.com/OkCRY1b4ym

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 3, 2024

(Top photo: Mitchell Leff  / Getty Images )