76ers' Joel Embiid reportedly pushes the columnist in the locker room after the game

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid pushed a newspaper columnist during an altercation on Saturday, according to multiple reports.

The altercation occurred in the 76ers' locker room following the team's 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, according to several reporters who were in the locker room to be available to the media after the game.

Embiid allegedly pushed Marcus Hayes, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. The newspaper did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the altercation early Sunday.

Hayes wrote a column before the season began criticizing Embiid and the uncertainty surrounding his playing status. Embiid has yet to play in a game this season due to a left knee injury. In his column, Hayes cited Embiid's son and his late brother as reasons why Embiid should start playing.

In a press conference on Friday, Embiid referenced the article when expressing his displeasure with how he was treated during his injury.

“When I see people say, 'He doesn't want to play' – I've done far too much for this city and put myself at risk for people to say that. I think it’s bulls—,” Embiid said. “That guy, he's not here Marcus, I've done way too much for this damn city to be treated like that.”

According to Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports, who was also in the locker room, Embiid and Hayes exchanged blows in the locker room on Saturday before Embiid's jab.

“We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room tonight and are conducting an investigation,” the NBA said in a statement Saturday night, according to Ben Golliver of the Washington Post.

Neither the NBA nor the Sixers immediately responded to a request for comment late Saturday.

Embiid, 30, was drafted third overall by the 76ers in the 2014 NBA Draft. He missed the first two seasons of his career due to injury.

Before the current season, Embiid said he would “probably never play in back-to-back games again” in his career to protect his knees, both of which have required surgery in the past.

On Tuesday, the NBA fined Philadelphia $100,000 for public statements “that were inconsistent with Embiid's medical condition.”