Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid angrily confronted female referee Jenna Schroeder when he was ejected in the first half of Monday’s game against San Antonio Spurs for two technical fouls.
Schroeder ejected Embiid with 2:59 left in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star received the first technical for arguing with Schroeder for a foul called on Victor Wembanyama, and received another technical – and ejection – from her before any more game time elapsed.
Embiid seemed on the brink of squaring up to Schroeder, but it wasn´t clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. Certain angles seemed to show his chin making contact with her hands and she was signaling her decision.
An enraged Embiid then charged toward the officials after the ejection and was restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, coach Nick Nurse and several assistants in astonishing scenes.
NBA broadcaster Stephanie Ready slammed Embiid’s conduct as she spoke over the replay on television, saying: ‘It’s a foul (on Wembanyama), every which way. You can see he is up disputing it, she is trying to discuss it calmly and he goes off.
‘Technical foul, and now look. He approaches and steps to her as if he wants to have a physical confrontation, which I have a problem with. He has to be restrained. He is now out of the game. I have a lot to say, as a woman.’
Joel Embiid screamed at NBA referee Jenna Schroeder as he was ejected from a 76ers game
An enraged Embiid charged toward the officials after the ejection and was restrained
Schroeder cold be seen holding her hands up and trying to step away as Embiid erupted
Embiid faced swift and immediate criticism from analysts and fans for his shock behavior
Embiid didn’t seem to be feeling too much regret over his conduct at the end of the game as he returned to the court to celebrate his team beating the Spurs 111-106.
Schroeder, 39, has been an NBA referee for four seasons and officiated in over 100 games, as per the NBA’s referee website.
It has been a trying season for Embiid, one of the NBA’s most gifted players.
He was playing in just his eighth game of the season, missing many due to left knee soreness that Philadelphia fans have mocked him for. He also missed three games after a suspension for an altercation with a reporter in the locker room and another following a sinus fracture sustained on Dec. 10.
Monday’s game marked just the fifth time Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia´s Big Three, were in the starting lineup together.
Wearing a mask while playing in just his second game since suffering the sinus fracture, Embiid had nine points and three rebounds in 14:22, shooting 2 for 8. This matchup against Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was a far cry from the first matchup between the 7-footers.
Last Jan. 22, Embiid set a Sixers franchise record with 70 points in a 133-123 victory over the Spurs in Philadelphia. In that game, Embiid made 24 of 41 field goals and 21 of 23 free throws, and added 18 rebounds and five assists. Wembanyama scored 33 points in the first matchup.
On Monday, Embiid went right at Wembanyama in the early going, showing the same aggressiveness as in their initial meeting. However, the Sixers’ star looked rusty for most of his abbreviated stay. Just before the ejection, Embiid was whistled for an offensive foul, leading to his altercation with Schroeder.
Embiid returned to the court to celebrate with his team as they eventually won the game
Embiid’s outburst was sparked by being penalized for a foul on Victor Wembanyama
Embiid erupted at Schroeder’s call in scenes that shocked the basketball world on Monday
It was the second ejection of the quarter by Schroeder, although the first was rescinded.
With 8:13 left in the period, Schroeder ejected Philadelphia´s Andre Drummond for an apparent foul on Wembanyama.
After video review, however, the officials rescinded the ejection. Then, they initially assessed Wembanyama with a technical foul for flopping. Maxey shot and made a free throw and the point went on the scoreboard, only for the officials to rescind the technical, remove the point and restart the game.
Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champ, entered averaging 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Philadelphia was 2-5 in the seven contests in which he played.
