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Joel Embiid is upset after Mike Breen’s story about him being reprimanded by LeBron James for tardiness went viral before the NBA season started. Breen later apologized, saying he did not intend to single out Embiid but acknowledges that it drew unwanted attention. The 76ers star feels like an easy target due to constant media scrutiny and expresses frustration over false narratives circulating about him, emphasizing the need for his team to stay focused amidst distractions.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
During a preseason game between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, MSG Network's Mike Breen reported an anecdote about LeBron James reprimanding Joel Embiid for being late to practice by "a couple of minutes." However, James denied this report in an Instagram post, writing "He ain’t been late so stop the lies." Following criticism and backlash, Breen apologized to ESPN, explaining that his intent was to highlight James's leadership rather than criticize Embiid. Embiid himself expressed frustration at being targeted, saying it feels like he is an easy target for such rumors. The incident highlights the sensitivity around narratives involving high-profile players in the NBA during the preseason period.
Written for “LeBron James Joel Embiid Controversy” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 68901 · logged 2026-10-09
Joel Embiid has one simple question: Why me?
The star 76ers center has found himself in the middle of a maelstrom before the new NBA season even kicks off, with Knicks’ play-by-play announced Mike Breen reporting — and then walking back — that Embiid was chastised by LeBron James for being late to practice.
asserted
Embiid → have → practice
“Those type of things, I can’t understand,” Embiid told reporters after his preseason debut against the Nets on Thursday.
asserted
Embiid → understand → Thursday
“One, it is not true, but then again, it’s like, ‘Why me?’ …
asserted
it → ’ → ?
I guess I’m Joel Embiid.
asserted
I → guess → ?
I don’t usually talk when it comes to those [rumors].
asserted
it → talk → rumors
So, it feels like I’m an easy target.”
asserted
I → feel → ?
Breen, on the broadcast of the Knicks-76ers preseason game on Monday, recounted a story he was told of the 2023 NBA MVP showing up a “couple of minutes late” to practice and that James “let him hear it.”
asserted
him → recount → it
James called the tale “lies,” and Breen apologized.
asserted
Breen → call → tale
“I thought it would be an interesting anecdote to show LeBron’s leadership already on display in Philly,” the veteran broadcaster told ESPN.
asserted
broadcaster → think → ESPN
In hindsight, I should have realized the fact that it was Joel is what made it a story.
asserted
it → realize → hindsight
I’ve always been a huge fan of Joel and feel awful that it put the focus on him the way that it did.”
asserted
it → feel → him
He now has offseason additions James and Jaylen Brown with him on the Philly roster alongside emerging star Tyrese Maxey with heightened championship expectations.
asserted
additions → have → expectations
The 32-year-old might have some big names to help shoulder the load, but may never fully escape the criticism.
uncertain
old → have → criticism
“It sucks, but what can you do?
asserted
you → suck → what
It’s unfortunate,” he said of Breen’s ill-fated anecdote.
asserted
he → ’ → anecdote
“I don’t know where that came from.
asserted
that → know → where
It never happened. …
asserted
It → happen → ?
I think we just got to focus on ourselves.
asserted
we → think → 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.
asserted
we → go → what
So, it’s important that we stay together and we keep our [head] down.”
asserted
we → ’ → head
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