The Philadelphia 76ers, loaded with new stars Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, are already feeling the heat, with an on-air anecdote from legendary announcer Mike Breen blowing up in the very first preseason game. This team is under a microscope, and it only took one broadcast for things to get wild.
What Happened With the Embiid Rumor?
It all kicked off during the Knicks-Sixers preseason opener broadcast when Mike Breen, New York’s longtime play-by-play guy, shared what he thought was a “harmless anecdote.” He said someone told him that Joel Embiid was a couple of minutes late to a practice, and LeBron “let him hear it.” You know how these things go, especially with Embiid’s history of reported tardiness. This wasn’t just some casual story, it went full-blown viral. Then, LeBron James himself hit up Instagram to straight-up deny it, insisting Embiid “ain’t been late so stop the lies.”
Breen’s Apology: ‘I Feel Awful’
Breen knew he had to address the firestorm. He spoke with ESPN, issuing an apology for kicking off a whole news cycle with his comments. He mentioned that the info came from “someone he trusts,” but if LeBron says it didn’t happen, Breen believes him. He admitted his biggest misstep was not realizing that simply having Embiid involved would turn a simple tidbit into a major headline. “I’ve always been a huge fan of Joel and feel awful that it put the focus on him the way that it did,” Breen said, explaining that for him, “the fact that the teammate was Joel was meaningless” at the time. Ouch. He gets it now.
The Sixers’ Microscope Just Got Magnified
LeBron knows the deal. He knows how “delicate the situation is right now” with this new super team, and he wanted to shut down any questions about Embiid’s professionalism before the season even truly began. It’s a clear sign of what’s coming: the 76ers are going to be under a microscope all year. Everything, from the good to the bad, even the mundane stuff, is gonna get amplified. This whole silly controversy arising in just *one* preseason game? That’s just the start. While everyone wants to move on, expect a lot more drama for this squad.
So, yeah, this team is already generating headlines, and not always for their on-court play. All eyes are now on how Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James actually gel when the games count, and if they can finally break through this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply