Joel Embiid has played in just 433 regular-season games since being the No. 3 overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

He has never once played 70 games in a season.

And when Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes criticized Embiid’s work ethic, lack of conditioning and pattern of unavailability, it didn’t go over well with the 2022-23 NBA MVP.

Embiid hasn’t played yet this season due to a left knee injury plus the three-game suspension he earned for shoving Hayes after a game on Nov. 2.

Embiid was irritated with the reporter for a few reasons, one being that he mentioned the name of the center’s dead brother and young son, both named Arthur, in the highly critical column.

Embiid certainly has the right to be upset and to deliver sharp words at the reporter—dang, what was the over-under on profane words during the confrontation?

No matter what the topic, the second an athlete gets physical with a reporter, they have lost the battle and the war.

While announcing the suspension, high-ranking NBA executive Joe Dumars included this nugget in his statement: “Interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical.”

Keep your hands off, Joel. 

You’re 30 years old. You’ve been frustrated with the things this whole season.

Instead of pushing somebody, have the team set you up with counseling to help figure out why you have so much anger.

Embiid, of course, is a spectacular player who has career averages of 27.9 points and 11.2 rebounds.

He led the NBA in scoring back-to-back seasons and had a solid chance to do so again last season before injuring the left knee in late January. He underwent surgery on Feb. 6 and later returned to action, but he hobbled through the playoffs.

The knee certainly didn’t recover because here he is still battling more issues with it.

The 76ers need the seven-time All-Star on the floor to make a run at a title.

But even with Embiid, Philadelphia hasn’t reached the Eastern Conference finals during his career, let alone the NBA Finals.

The more the 76ers come up short, the more people question whether Embiid will ever get Philadelphia to the finals.

The 76ers last title came in 1983, when NBA MVP Moses Malone and basketball icon Julius Erving led the way.

The 76ers added Paul George in the offseason to help with the title quest, and Tyrese Maxey, who just injured a hamstring, is also part of a star-studded trio.

But no matter who you break it down, the 76ers need Embiid on the floor. They are a dreadful 2-7, and five of the losses have been by double digits.

Embiid is eligible to return from his suspension on Tuesday against the New York Knicks. Those are the same Knicks that eliminated Philadelphia in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

There’s no guarantee Embiid’s knee will be ready for the contest against the Knicks. And that’s kind of the real problem—when will that knee allow him to take the court and be a dominant force?

Because once he’s playing games and putting up 30-plus points every night, this whole situation will disappear. The focus will return to his skills, and the 76ers should start winning more games.

But exploding on a reporter—even if the Arthur stuff was unnecessary—is not a good look for the so-called face of the franchise.

Embiid has seemed to be one of those players that could spend his entire career with one organization. If that doesn’t happen, consider the recent weeks as the beginning of the road out of town.

Embiid made a big mistake. He’ll choose his path moving forward.

But big Joel, maybe keep your hands off the working stiffs in the future.