cbssports
The Philadelphia 76ers are bracing for intense scrutiny this season after a transformative summer that saw them acquire Jaylen Brown via trade and sign LeBron James, assembling a star-laden starting lineup. The basketball world is eager to see how these high-profile personalities coexist both on and off the court.
During the MSG broadcast of Monday night's preseason opener between the New York Knicks and the Sixers, longtime Knicks play-by-play announcer Mike Breen shared what he believed was an innocuous story illustrating James' leadership. "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 on air.
What Breen didn't anticipate was that attaching Embiid's name—given his reported history of tardiness—would cause the anecdote to explode on social media. James eventually took to Instagram to refute the account, stating that Embiid "ain't been late so stop the lies." Regardless of the story's veracity, James recognized the sensitivity of the situation and aimed to prevent any doubts about Embiid's professionalism from festering before the season began.
Breen later spoke with ESPN to apologize for igniting a news cycle, explaining that while he trusted the source who told him the story, he believes James' denial. "I don't know why the person who told me the story would make it up, but if LeBron says it never happened then I believe him and apologize for putting it out there," Breen said.
He also expressed regret for not foreseeing that identifying Embiid would elevate the anecdote far beyond a simple preseason tidbit. "For me, the fact that the teammate was Joel was meaningless. In hindsight, I should have realized the fact that it was Joel is what made it a story," Breen said. "I've always been a huge fan of Joel and feel awful that it put the focus on him the way that it did."
Key Analysis
The rapid escalation of this minor preseason incident underscores the immense media attention the 76ers will face all year. Every action, comment, and interaction will be magnified, and while the parties involved may wish to move on quickly, similar controversies are likely to arise as the season progresses.
Originally reported by cbssports.