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Mike Breen Apologizes After LeBron Refutes Embiid Late Arrival Story
Confirmed
In Short: Mike Breen apologized Wednesday for sharing a story about Joel Embiid being late for practice, which LeBron James denied on Instagram.
Mike Breen, the longtime play-by-play announcer for MSG Networks, apologized Wednesday for sharing a story about Joel Embiid being late for practice during Monday's preseason game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks.
Breen had said on First Take that someone told him before the game that Embiid walked out on the court a couple of minutes late, and LeBron let him hear it.
However, LeBron James refuted the story on Instagram, insisting that Embiid 'ain't been late so stop the lies.'
Breen told ESPN that he regrets the attention the anecdote brought to Embiid and that if James says it didn't happen, he believes him.
Breen said the information came from someone he trusts and shared it to highlight James' early leadership in Philadelphia.
The story gained traction because Embiid has a history of reported tardiness, and James knew how delicate the situation was and wanted to nip any questions about Embiid's professionalism in the bud.
Breen spoke with ESPN to apologize for starting an entire news cycle with his comments and noted that while he was told the information by someone he trusts, if James says it didn't happen, he believes him.
Breen said the whole intent was praising LeBron for already having an impact on the team's professionalism and accountability, even something so benign as a player getting on the court for practice a minute or two late.
The Philadelphia 76ers are set to be the center of a lot of media attention this year with the addition of LeBron James to their roster, and this controversy is a precursor to what is to come all year for the Sixers.
Coach Doc Rivers said Embiid has been excellent and in great shape, having worked very hard during training camp.
James' Instagram post on Tuesday pushed back against the story, urging people to stop spreading lies about Embiid's punctuality.
What this adds
The incident highlights the scrutiny and media attention the Philadelphia 76ers will face with LeBron James on the team.
What's confirmed
- “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 said.
- "For me, the fact that the teammate was Joel was meaningless. In hindsight, I should have realized the fact that it was Joel is what made it a story," Breen said.
- "I don't know why the person who told me the story would make it up, but if LeBron says it never happened then I believe him and apologize for putting it out there," Breen said.
- "I'm so disappointed how the story was interpreted," Breen, who broadcast the Sixers' game against the New York Knicks for MSG Networks, told ESPN.
- "The whole intent was praising LeBron for already having an impact on the team's professionalism and accountability, even something so benign as a player getting on the court for practice a minute or two late." During the fourth quarter of the Sixers' 120-97 win over the Knicks, Breen detailed what he had heard about James reacting to Embiid not making it onto the practice court on time.
- Two seasons ago, amid a disappointing 2-11 start for Philadelphia, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Embiid was called out by teammates for being late "for everything" as the group tried to get back on track.
- -- After LeBron James disputed a story shared during Monday's preseason opener about a training camp interaction with new Philadelphia 76ers teammate Joel Embiid, longtime play-by-play announcer Mike Breen apologized Wednesday for the stir that it caused.
- "I'm just surprised by what I was told before and what you guys are asking me about, because he's been excellent," Nurse said of Embiid.
- James rejected the account Tuesday on Instagram, writing that Embiid has not been late and urging people to stop spreading lies.
What's still developing
- LeBron came out and refuted this story tonight on Instagram: https://t.co/djV7zfAURx For what it’s worth, it was reported two years ago that Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey called out Embiid in a team meeting for being late “for everything” amidst a dreadful 2–11 start to the season, so this is not the first time we’ve heard stories of Embiid’s alleged tardiness.
- "fostered a dysfunctional and toxic environment."
- "I'm sorry that when I was on television earlier this morning, on First Take... people misconstrued me minimizing mental health."
- "ESPN is losing some great internal pieces that will impact its college football/basketball coverage."
- "I don't give a f*ck about the salary cap."
- In the end, this feels like a pretty small potatoes bit of “he said, he said” drama.
- He also felt bad about not recognizing that simply by stating it was Embiid, the story would get legs and become much bigger than an announcer trying to fill time and offer a tidbit of information during a preseason broadcast.
- The good, the bad and the mundane will all be amplified, and while all parties involved seem ready to sweep this story away, there will be plenty more to come.
- "I thought it would be an interesting anecdote to show LeBron's leadership already on display in Philly," he said.
- That said, Embiid being late two years ago by no mean proves that he was late again this training camp, and James sounds adamant in his statement that that was simply not the case.