All eyes around the NBA are on the 76ers‘ star-studded roster for 2026-27. And already, that’s meant more scrutiny surrounding those stars.
As Philadelphia has gotten its preseason underway, including the debut of its full starting five on Thursday night against the Nets, there have been some conflicting indications of a practice situation surrounding Joel Embiid and LeBron James.
Both stars have now denied that Embiid needed to be reprimanded by James for being late to a practice, with the star center calling the initial report “unfortunate.”
Here’s what Embiid had to say about the report indicating he had been late to a 76ers practice.
MORE: Why Mike Breen apologized for LeBron James-Joel Embiid report
Joel Embiid tells his side of LeBron James practice report
Earlier in the week, longtime NBA broadcaster Mike Breen, on his call of Knicks vs. 76ers in the preseason for MSG Network, said he had already heard about an instance of James reacting to Embiid not making it to a practice on time.
“Somebody told me before the game that they were out ready to practice, and Joel Embiid walked out on the court a couple of minutes late, and LeBron let him hear it,” Breen said.
The broadcaster later apologized, though, after James shot down the report, calling it “lies” on social media.
On Thursday, after James made his 76ers debut, Embiid also addressed the practice report, which he said “is not true,” per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“It sucks, but what can you do? It’s unfortunate,” Embiid said. “I don’t know where that came from. It never happened. … I think we just got to focus on ourselves. There’s going to be a lot of outside noise to pull us apart from what we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to accomplish. So, it’s important that we stay together and we keep our [head] down.”
The 76ers big man also argued that he’s “an easy target” for such reports.
“Those type of things, I can’t understand,” Embiid said, per ESPN. “One, it is not true, but then again, it’s like, ‘Why me?’ … I guess I’m Joel Embiid. I’ve been in that situation. I don’t usually talk when it comes to those [rumors]. So, it feels like I’m an easy target.
“But yeah, as long as we know who we are [we will be OK] and we just got to stick together.”
With both of the 76ers’ stars shooting the report down, it appears any controversy has been put to bed as the team continues gelling in the preseason.
MORE: 76ers’ center rotation takes a blow with Ariel Hukporti’s unfortunate injury
