Sunday was a great day of action for the NBA, with two games needing extra time and another ending in a game-winner. Yet, somehow, the stories of Sunday were not really about the games.
Raptors Honor Vince Carter with Jersey Retirement
The highlight of Sunday, arguably, was the Toronto Raptors giving their first-ever franchise icon a fitting jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of the Raptors game versus the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.
“It’s not just Carter 15 going up, it’s all of us going up,” Carter told the crowd as he spoke just before the banner with his name and number on it went up to the rafters. “The memories, however, you view them, go up tonight. I hope and pray we enjoy our jersey being retired forever together.”
Former teammates Tracy McGrady, Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis, and more were present to support Carter, who was visibly emotional throughout the ceremony. He was also with his family on this special day.
Carter was originally picked fifth in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors but was sent to the Raptors in exchange for Antawn Jamison. He spent six-plus seasons in Toronto.
Sixers’ Joel Embiid Confronts Reporter
The Philadelphia 76ers’ contentious start to the 2024–25 NBA Season continued on Sunday, with the team dropping a 124-107 decision to the upstart Memphis Grizzlies at Wells Fargo Center.
The real story of this game, however, was postgame, when a testy exchange between Sixers franchise player Joel Embiid and a Philadelphia-based sports journalist occurred. According to reports, the former MVP confronted Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who had previously written a column about the big man but also referenced his son and dead brother.
Embiid, who is said to have taken umbrage at Hayes’ column, reportedly pushed Hayes, telling him: “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.”
The NBA has acknowledged the confrontation and is commencing an investigation.
NBA Reopens Investigation on Lakers Center Jaxson Hayes
Speaking of investigations, it appears the league has reopened one on Los Angeles Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes, who was previously arrested for domestic disturbance in 2021.
The 24-year-old Hayes, who is averaging 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game for the Lakers this season, is not being charged with anything per se. However, a lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend on his arresting officer three years ago and a new video from TMZ has prompted the league to reopen the investigation.
Hayes, then 21, was not disciplined by the NBA but was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service, and a year of weekly domestic violence classes.
