LeBron James has officially responded to rumors that he called out Joel Embiid for being late to 76ers practice. <\/p>\n
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, James wrote, “\ud83e\udde2! He ain’t been late so stop the lies.”<\/p>\n
NBA broadcaster Mike Breen<\/a> reported during Monday’s preseason game between the 76ers and New York Knicks that James let Embiid “hear it” during a recent 76ers practice after Embiid was late to the session.<\/p>\n Breen revealed during the game broadcast that “somebody” told him about the encounter before the game.<\/p>\n “They were out ready to practice, Joel Embiid walked out on the court a couple of minutes late and LeBron let him hear it,” Breen reported.<\/p>\n James and Embiid are entering their first year as teammates following a busy offseason in which the 76ers added Jaylen Brown and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer to a core that includes Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Embiid.<\/p>\n While Embiid remains a dominant offensive force for Philadelphia when healthy, his punctuality has been an issue in the past. <\/p>\n In Nov. 2024, Maxey reportedly<\/a> criticized Embiid for being late “for everything” and “challenged” him to be on time for team activities moving forward.<\/p>\n As for James, he’s known for his meticulous workout regimen<\/a> in order to prepare for each season. That hasn’t changed entering his 24th year in the NBA, as Edgecombe reflected on the first time he saw James in the locker room before practice.<\/p>\n “He was in there before everybody,” Edgecombe said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin<\/a>. “As usual.”<\/p>\n With expectations high for the 76ers entering their 2026-27 campaign, James has prioritized accountability among his new teammates.<\/p>\n