Sixers

LeBron Calls Bullshit on Mike Breen’s Story of Joel Embiid Being Late to the Practice Court (UPDATED)

By Matt Schultz

Published: Oct 7th, 2026 · 4:43 PM EDT

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There really is a new LeBron story every day. It’s pretty fun. I enjoy thinking about the Sixers. It’s nice having new Sixers stuff to think about every time I wake up. Here’s what we got cooking this morning: 

During the broadcast of the Sixers’ first preseason game against the Knicks, Mike Breen told a story about how LeBron ripped Joel Embiid for being a few minutes late to practice in front of the team during the first week of training camp:

Mike Breen says he was told Joel Embiid showed up a couple minutes late to Sixers practice and LeBron "let him hear it." pic.twitter.com/zLx3ElnCdp

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) October 6, 2026

“They’re raving about how he’s been so far. Obviously it’s only a week of camp, but I had somebody tell me before the game that they were out ready to practice… and Joel Embiid walked out on the court a couple minutes late, and LeBron let him hear it.”

For what it’s worth, I liked this story. I thought it boded well for the culture of the team. For years now, we’ve heard tons of stories about Joel being late to stuff and mailing in practices and pretty much doing whatever he feels like, only to be treated with kid gloves by the coaches and front office. I liked the idea of LeBron holding him accountable. That sounds like good teammate-type stuff. I was very pro-story.

LeBron clearly did not agree with my assessment. Here’s what he posted on his IG on Tuesday:

Now I don’t know what to believe. Did the LeBron/Jo confrontation happen or not? Let’s run through the possibilities here:

I don’t think Mike Breen would make this up. I’m sure he was told this story by someone close to the team. Breen has been calling NBA games for 100 years. Think we’d know by now if he was out here telling very detailed stories filled entirely with lies on broadcasts.

Would someone who works for the Sixers make this story up/tell it to Mike Breen? I think the answer there is also no. Why would someone do that? What’s the incentive? I don’t see it.

Which leads me to conclude that this story is true. It feels true. Doesn’t this feel like it would happen? I think so.

So if we’re going to believe this situation actually happened, the question then becomes: Why would LeBron take to Instagram and say the story is bullshit? My guess there is that Joel didn’t like the story. It makes him sound pretty bad. The story paints him as a late-guy who got sonned by LeBron. That is slightly embarrassing, getting reprimanded by a guy who just joined the team you’ve been on for over a decade in front of the whole roster. No one likes being reprimanded as an adult. It’s a very little-kid thing to happen. Gotta stand there and lower your head and quietly say, “You’re right, it won’t happen again. Sorry everybody.” No good. So maybe Joel let it be known that he didn’t like this story getting out, and LeBron disputed it to help Jo save some face. That could happen. That feels right.

Also, LeBron just seems to enjoy the circus of LeBron. Think he gets a kick out of disputing stories and stirring the pot and keeping his name in the news cycle, and this was an easy way to do that. Which I don’t mind. Like I said, I’m having fun. I enjoy thinking about the Sixers. It’s nice having new stuff to think about. Excited for whatever it’ll be tomorrow morning.

EDIT – 10/7 4:43 p.m. – Mike Breen issued an apology for this