NBA Rewind: The Joel Embiid controversy, Drake vs. DeMar DeRozan and beefy weekend

We’re about two weeks into the 2024-25 season, and we just had one of the most chaotic NBA weekends … ever? There were a bunch of kerfuffles, a lot of drama, teams surging, teams spiraling and a player allegedly pushed a reporter in the locker room. When we decided to do this NBA Rewind after every weekend, I wondered if we’d have enough material for it early on. After this weekend, I’m wondering if this needs to be a daily, possibly even hourly, article. Here’s your latest NBA Rewind!

Big Weekend of Beefs

Normally, we start this Monday post by giving the extended Stock Report from The Bounce newsletter. And by normally, I mean we’ve done one of these articles before this one, and that’s the formula we had. However, there were so many beefs and short tempers this weekend that it’s worth doing a rundown of everything happening. From Joel Embiid pushing a journalist to your standard in-game tussles, let’s go through each one and tell you what you need to know.

Joel Embiid allegedly pushes a Philadelphia journalist

This was the biggest story from the weekend in the NBA. It might have been the biggest story in sports from the weekend, and it dominated Saturday night and a good chunk of football Sunday. Following a highly critical article by Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid confronted Hayes in the locker room after a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Embiid has not played yet this season in the Sixers’ 1-4 start. In fact, he’s missed roughly 45 percent of his 801 regular-season games in his career. Hayes’ article was harsh in how he questioned Embiid’s commitment to the team. Embiid responded passionately and angrily in a news conference on Friday. So, why did it escalate on Saturday?

The article’s original lede referenced Embiid’s son, who is named after Embiid’s dead brother, Arthur. Hayes mentioned both family members as a way to launch into a criticism of Embiid’s absence and not showing up to work. When Hayes and Embiid were in the locker room together after Saturday’s game, Embiid decided to have it out with Hayes, whom he previously criticized for not being at practices and around the team. Hayes was not there on Friday when Embiid had his news conference. What happened exactly, though?

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 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 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 said the team has spoken to the NBA.

It’s safe to say the NBA will take this very seriously. Verbal confrontations happen between media and players, coaches, executives, etc. when criticism is levied. Sometimes, it’s worked out, and it creates a permanent divide in other instances. Media outlets are going to want the league to make sure this doesn’t happen again so their work environment is safe. Players aren’t going to accept dead family members and children being used as fodder for whatever agenda (fair or foul) is being pushed — nor should they. That’s way out of bounds and shouldn’t be accepted. What kind of suspension/penalty could Embiid face? More about that below!

Drake, DeMar DeRozan exchange words and whispers

There was something cool happening in Toronto Saturday night! Vince Carter became the first Toronto Raptor to have their jersey retired. It was an emotional night and a very impressive ceremony by the Raptors organization. We also saw the coolest retired jersey banner of all time. Unfortunately, the internet only focused on that for a few moments. 

GO DEEPER

Vince Carter’s Toronto Raptors jersey retirement had something most don’t — catharsis

Why? Drake decided to make the night about his beef with former Raptor star DeMar DeRozan, who played against Toronto as a member of the Sacramento Kings. How did he do that? Drake was sitting courtside, as he typically does. He’s a Raptors fan when it’s convenient to be, he’s arguably the biggest celebrity in Canada, and he’s the team’s Global Ambassador, which is kind of a fake title. Drake also joined the Raptors television broadcast, as is forced upon the audience a couple times a year. 


DeMar DeRozan and Drake, during happier times in 2015. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images)

This is the rundown of why this escalated to Saturday night: 

  • Drake had a rap beef with Kendrick Lamar earlier this year and got cooked in a historic way. 
  • One of Kendrick’s diss tracks about Drake, “Not Like Us,” referenced fellow Compton native DeRozan. DeRozan also appeared in the music video for the song and at a pop-up concert shortly after. 
  • The Raptors broadcast had Drake on during the Kings-Raptors game. He claimed he’d pull down a DeRozan banner if it’s put up. He called DeRozan a “goof.”
  • Drake was also pretty lecherous toward Canadian entertainer Jessie Reyez on the broadcast and “joked” he’d had enough to drink when he thought they were going to commercial because of him.
  • DeRozan responded after the game by saying Drake would have to climb very high to take down a banner.

It sucks that Carter’s night was overshadowed by a rapper who has had a rough 2024. Drake also muttered some choice words under his breath when DeRozan was near him as the game ended in a Raptors victory. It’s very Drake that he took a loss in yet another beef.

Rudy Gobert, Russell Westbrook nearly get into it

During the Minnesota Timberwolves’ victory over the Denver Nuggets Friday night, we saw a pretty epic throwdown by Christian Braun on Rudy Gobert. It wasn’t quite the same elevation off contact we saw from Tom Chambers on Mark Jackson decades ago, but you can see a little lift as the bodies collide before Braun’s two-handed dunk. It’s a vicious slam, followed by a bit of a taunt as Braun walked into Gobert’s space. Gobert then grabbed Braun around the neck before moving him aside.

Nothing big there, but did you notice the end of the clip? Russell Westbrook, who has a history of trying to humiliate Gobert over the years, ran up to defend his new teammate. Go watch it again, and notice the reaction from Gobert when he notices Westbrook run up on him. There is a genuine look of fear or surprise in the moment. It’s fun for many to imagine that Gobert is afraid of Westbrook and that’s why he seemed scared. You could also infer that Gobert didn’t notice Westbrook until the last split second and it surprised him a lot. Either way, fans on the internet had a lot of fun at Gobert’s expense, as they are wont to do.

Grant Williams and Jayson Tatum are … friends?

Former Boston Celtic and current Charlotte Hornet Grant Williams had a bizarre reunion with his former teammates. In a baseball-style series with Boston in Charlotte for two straight games this weekend, Williams had a massive collision in the first game with Jayson Tatum. As Tatum was dribbling up the court, Williams just barreled into him for no reason.  It was assessed a flagrant-2.

That’s not a basketball play in the slightest. I’m not the biggest hockeyman either, but I doubt that’s even a hockey play! Williams reportedly wore his welcome pretty thin in his brief stretch with the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics appear to like Williams more than that, but there was a weird series of non-basketball moments Williams had in their two games against each other that just looked odd. He was ejected after the hip-check and then got lit up in the next game against Boston. Worth it?

Jaden McDaniels and Jeremy Sochan tussle

Most weeks, this would probably be the beef of the weekend, but this pretty heated moment between Wolves wing Jaden McDaniels and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan barely registers when compared to the others. Sochan pulled down McDaniels on the loose ball and was immediately grabbed by the jersey as they went face-to-face. I’m not sure what McDaniels said to Sochan, but it looked like he meant it.

This came after a play earlier in which Sochan tried to draw by a foul dribbling up the floor and stopping abruptly in front of McDaniels. The Wolves’ wing took exception to that but could rest easy with it being called an offensive foul. McDaniels got very aggressive after Sochan pulled him down on the rebound attempt. The fun part about this was watching the Spurs broadcast, seeing it notice the initial pull down in the replay and then saying that there was a little tug on the jersey.

Stock Report Extended

We’re into Week 2 for our NBA Stock Report to let you know who is heading in the right and wrong directions. Pretty much the entire Pacific Division could be on the way up right now (yes, even the Clippers!), but we’ll try to spread the love. The negativity will mostly be saturated with the injuries we hate so much.

📈 Golden State Warriors (5-1): Steph Curry went down with an ankle injury, and we expected the Warriors to falter while he’s out. 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 has been special, and their offense is getting by with slow Kyle Anderson floaters, Buddy Hield looking like Klay Thompson and Brandin Podziemski post-ups. All of this while Jonathan Kuminga has taken the demotion to coming off the bench by scoring and shooting lights out.

📉 Orlando 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. Of course, there’s the mantra every coach employs during a star injury, which is “next man up.” The Magic don’t have anybody to replace what Banchero does, though. They can make games ugly with defense, but this could be a really bad stretch for them. 

📈 Sacramento Kings: (3-3): Yes, they lost to Toronto in overtime, but the Kings have looked good this past week. The trio of DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis is clicking. Fox is playing with a hurt finger that hasn’t fully healed yet. So far, the Kings have returned to having a highly productive offense, and their defensive improvements from the second half of last season have mostly stayed. They just went 3-1 and should have gone 4-0.

📉 Milwaukee Bucks (1-5): The sky is falling? The Bucks continue to struggle, having lost to Boston, Memphis and Cleveland. You can justify those losses. They can’t defend anybody. You can’t justify that. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are playing well. And it doesn’t matter yet. Khris Middleton hasn’t come back yet, but not even the All-Star and champion can be the difference between them being good and them being abysmal. My favorite current cockamamie theory is Doc Rivers wants to be fired and collect the checks. 

📈 Brooklyn Nets (3-4): Yes, I know they just lost to the Pistons on Sunday. I don’t care. I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the Nets to start this season. Some of that resides in the expectation heading into this season. They were supposed to be the worst team in basketball, or at least competing with the Wizards and Blazers for that honor. At least to begin the season, the Nets have been really competitive. Cam Thomas is scoring. Ben Simmons as the center kind of works a little? The 2010-11 post-LeBron James Cavaliers started 7-9 before finishing 19-63. Maybe we’ll see a similar fall, but right now, it’s fun.

📉 New Orleans 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. This team was always going to have some problems because of the roster imbalance, but the depth and firepower was supposed to carry them through. That’s not happening yet. They got smoked by the Warriors without Curry (twice), the Blazers and the Hawks. Get well, get well soon, we want you to get well!

The Week Ahead

Allow me to set your calendar for the upcoming week! I can’t actually do that unless we have some feature on the site I’m not privy to. But I can still give you three things we’re looking forward to in the next few days in this very young NBA season.

The Embiid punishment

Yes, you read about it above, and now we’ll wait to see what the league decides after its investigation. As I wrote in The Bounce, the NBA has a potentially dramatic precedent to set here moving forward:

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 you saw the NBA change in the ’90s to automatically suspending players for leaving 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.

Could Embiid get a slap on the wrist since it was just a shoulder push? Would that be one game and a big fine? Two games? Do his words about not caring what the consequences are next time qualify as a legitimate threat in the league’s eyes? What about a five-game suspension? Ja Morant received eight games in 2022-23 for off-court actions the league deemed detrimental to the league. Then, after he ventured down that road again, Morant was hit with a 25-game suspension to start last season. I doubt Embiid’s punishment would be as harsh as that, but somewhere in the five-to-10 games range could be the message delivered to Embiid and other players. That would cost him millions of his $51.4 million salary this season.

Will the Thunder or Cavs lose? Will the Jazz win?

Both the Oklahoma City Thunder (6-0) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-0) are off to amazing starts. The Thunder have the league’s most dominant offense, and have won all six of their games by at least 12 points to begin this season. They play Orlando (sans Banchero) Monday night, and will play in Denver before hosting Houston and Golden State this weekend. The Cavs have the NBA’s second-best offense and the fourth-best defense, and five of their seven wins have been by double digits. They face Milwaukee on Monday, but Giannis has been nursing a knee injury. They have New Orleans, Golden State and Brooklyn to finish the week.

Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz still haven’t won a game. They have the worst offense in the league, by far. They can’t guard anybody either, which makes winning tough. Utah is at Chicago, Milwaukee and San Antonio the rest of the week. At least the Jazz finally figured out how to tank!

Wednesday’s slate is fun!

Let’s whet that basketball appetite. How does Trae Young going against the Knicks tickle your fancy? What about the Warriors going into Boston to try to give them their first home loss of the season? Steph Curry might be back! The Spurs are at the Rockets, and the Victor Wembanyama versus Houston matchup has been very fun so far. The Thunder at the Nuggets? Jimmy Butler against Kevin Durant? What might the Kings do on the jumbotron when the Raptors visit the Kings in retaliation toward Drake? That’s all one night.

Noteworthy: No games on Tuesday for Election Day

It’s Election Day, which is that fun time for everybody! The NBA no longer has games on Election Days, so you’ll have to find other ways to entertain yourself. Might I suggest watching “The Penguin” on Max or “Detroiters” on Netflix?

(Top photo of Joel Embiid: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)



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