Joel Embiid must have created enmity with his luck ahead of the season. He is yet to suit up for Philly and now a new trouble has strolled in. The Process is serving a three-game suspension for his recent incident with a reporter in the 76ers’ locker room. Embiid didn’t like what Marcus Hayes wrote in his column about the Sixers’ superstar’s son and late brother, Arthur. Luckily, the row didn’t escalate, however, it prompted an investigation thus leading to the suspension of the 30-year-old center.

But those who’ve experienced media intervention in their personal boundaries like legacy player Austin Rivers and his father Doc Rivers have somewhat extended their sympathy for Embiid. In reality, Rivers Jr. blames the Philadelphia 76ers management for Joel’s abrupt outburst. Speaking on The Ringer NBA Show on Apple Podcast, the player-turned-analyst, Austin Rivers said:

“To some degree, that’s a failure of the Philadelphia PR department,” Rivers remarked. “Because what I would have done with that, like, if this had been with the Cavs or something like that, I would have gone to the journalist and said, ‘Hey, listen, why are you here? Like, what are you hoping to achieve with this?’ Then I would have gone to Joel and said, ‘Hey, Joel, listen, such and such is here. Here’s what they’re trying to achieve.” 

What Austin Rivers is pointing out is that the 76ers management was surely aware of Marcus Hayes’ columns on Joel Embiid. Moreover, the hooper has in the past called out the journalist when he questioned his credibility for Philadelphia. So, Austin Rivers further adds: “You would have got your answer then. Joel isn’t gonna say, yeah, bring him over here so I can shove him in the chest. He’s gonna say, yo, I don’t wanna see him. So, like, how he got to Joel? That’s my point.”

Well, if you try to analyze the NBA analyst’s take on the matter, you might find a lot of valid points. Especially knowing that Joel Embiid’s team could’ve made efforts to avoid the ugly or weird (whatever you call it) incident. Anyway, the star isn’t playing due to his knee issues and this added suspension isn’t looking particularly great.

Now, coming back to Doc Rivers and his family who are extending their support to the 76ers main man. The Bucks HC has experienced such episodes previously. Well, his son was the target but, the matter didn’t particularly turn ‘violent’ to put it simply. However, Rivers Sr. and Rivers Jr. are understanding Joel Embiid’s current situation, which, to be honest, isn’t so good.

Austin Rivers relives weird past situation in light of Joel Embiid’s 3-game suspension

The ex-Nuggets guard understands from where Joel Embiid’s reaction fumed. ESPN reporter highlighted Austin Rivers’ experience as a legacy player under his father, Doc Rivers. “He wrote some bul—t article about my personality and how I walk around the practice facility and he’s calling me like a whiny tyrant, like just completely out of bounds, out of line stuff when he’s never been in our locker room, and never had conversations with me personally. And it started a lot of stuff when I was there,” he said.

The columns out there created a peculiar image of Rivers’ demeanor that shouldn’t have existed in the first place. The matter concerned Joel Embiid’s well-wisher for a while. Even Doc Rivers shared his son’s agitation. “It was a very hurtful thing to do. I remember it pi–ed me off, it pi–ed my pops off,” he recalled. But years later Austin Rivers got a chance to sit with Michael Eaves and dare we say it things didn’t go downhill like in Embiid’s case.

The fact that the 76ers ace has never responded to personal criticisms in a way that he did recently. The only upsetting issue was linking his game to his late brother and son, Arthur. This crossed personal boundaries that the media should respect with players. But now that he has done the deed and assigned the punishment, nothing much can be done about it. For obvious reasons, an altercation will be looked at as an extreme reaction. Therefore, it’s hard to tell if the disciplinary committee will consider Embiid’s sentiments and grant him some sort of relief. What do you think?