[ESPN] Mike Breen apologizes after LeBron James refutes Embiid story
CAMDEN, N.J. – After LeBron James refuted 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 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’ eventual 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.
“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 on the broadcast.Breen, who also calls games for ESPN and ABC, told ESPN the story was told to him by “someone I trust” and he wanted to share it with viewers to show positive team dynamics that were already developing.
“I thought it would be an interesting anecdote to show LeBron’s leadership already on display in Philly,” he 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. I’ve always been a huge fan of Joel and feel awful that it put the focus on him the way that it did.”
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.
James on his Instagram account on Tuesday pushed back on the story Breen shared on the broadcast, writing, “He ain’t been late so stop the lies.”
Breen accepted James’ view, adding to ESPN: “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.”
Sixers coach Nick Nurse said he became aware of the situation only following Wednesday’s practice.“All I’m really focused on is getting the players to the practice floor and getting the players to the game floor,” Nurse said. “And that’s what they are going to do, too. We understand. We’ve had meetings and we’ve talked about, ‘Yes, there’ll be outside noise, but it’s up to us, I think, to manage it.’”
Nurse was asked by a reporter if he thought the story was “unfair” to Embiid.
“I’m just surprised that this has come up and you guys are asking about this, because Joel has been excellent,” Nurse said. “He’s been on the practice floor. He’s worked really hard and he’s been playing great. So, I’m just surprised something like that has come out.”
Neither James, Embiid or Tyrese Maxey played in the Knicks game. Nurse said he plans to play his intended regular-season rotation in two of Philadelphia’s remaining three preseason games, starting Thursday on the road against the Brooklyn Nets.
“We should be able to get the majority of the guys out there,” Nurse said of the Nets game.
That will include trying out some of his players at the backup center position after 7-foot big man Ariel Hukporti underwent season-ending right Achilles surgery Tuesday.
Nurse said that the 6-foot-9 James and 6-foot-9 Dean Wade are both “candidates” for minutes slotted at small-ball 5 for the Sixers, along with the 6-foot-7 Jabari Walker and 6-foot-9 Dominick Barlow.
Philadelphia also has a traditional center in second-year big man Adem Bona to spell Embiid. Bona progressed to on-court workouts Wednesday after being sidelined with a sprained left foot to begin training camp.
Nurse said the Sixers have no plans to add another center to the roster.
“I think that we’ll probably go with that crew,” Nurse said, “unless something else emerges.”