Joel Embiid is done hearing about the LeBron James practice story, and he wants the rumor put to rest.
The 76ers have spent the start of preseason under a brighter spotlight than usual, with a roster loaded for 2026-27 and plenty of attention already circling the group. That focus only intensified after a report surfaced suggesting Embiid had been late to a practice and James had called him out for it. By Thursday, both players had rejected the claim.
The original chatter came from longtime NBA broadcaster Mike Breen during his call of Knicks vs. 76ers on MSG Network. Breen said he had heard that “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 later apologized after James publicly pushed back on social media, calling the report “lies.”
Embiid then addressed it on Thursday after James made his 76ers debut, and he didn’t leave much room for doubt. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Embiid said the report “is not true.”
“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.”
Embiid also said he feels like these kinds of stories land on him too easily.
“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 stars denying the practice report, the episode looks closed for now as Philadelphia keeps working through preseason and building toward the year ahead.
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