Joel Embiid Refutes Report of LeBron James Confrontation Over Practice Punctuality

Joel Embiid dismissed claims that LeBron James confronted him for being late to practice, calling himself an easy target after a 114-108 loss to the Nets.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid recorded eight points, three rebounds, and three assists in 24 minutes during a 114-108 preseason loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. In his debut, Embiid shot 1-for-5 from the field and committed eight turnovers. Following the game, the center addressed a report originating from an MSG Networks broadcast that LeBron James had confronted him for arriving late to a practice session.

Embiid stated the claim was not true and questioned why he was subject to the scrutiny, describing himself as an easy target for rumors. The initial report was shared by play-by-play announcer Mike Breen during the fourth quarter of Philadelphia's 120-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday. Breen, who has since apologized, cited a source claiming James "let him hear it" after Embiid walked onto the court a few minutes late.

James also denied the interaction on Tuesday, labeling the report as "lies" on his Instagram account. Embiid emphasized the importance of the team staying together despite outside noise intended to pull the roster apart. Regarding his on-court performance, the 76ers center noted that his first few games each year typically require a period of adjustment to improve ball security and rhythm.