James denies report he admonished Embiid over practice lateness

LeBron James denied a report that he admonished Philadelphia 76ers teammate Joel Embiid for arriving late to practice, disputing an account relayed by broadcaster Mike Breen during a preseason game. Whether Embiid was late or James confronted him remains unverified in the available accounts. Breen said during the 76ers’ preseason broadcast against the New York Knicks that someone had told him Embiid walked onto the court a couple of minutes late for a recent practice and that James “let him hear it.” Breen did not identify the person who provided the account. James responded in an Instagram Story, writing that Embiid “ain’t been late” and urging people to stop spreading lies. His denial directly contradicts the account Breen attributed to an unnamed source. No other direct witness account or practice record has been provided to establish what happened. The report and James’s response circulated as Philadelphia prepares for the 2026-27 NBA season. James and Embiid are beginning their first season as 76ers teammates after previously playing together for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics. The preseason game against New York was part of the team’s preparations for the regular season.