Joel Embiid Questions Why He's an 'Easy Target' After Mike Breen Apology
The 76ers star addresses a fabricated story involving LeBron James that was shared by the Knicks broadcaster.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid expressed frustration and confusion over a false anecdote that circulated about him and LeBron James, stating he feels like an "easy target." The story, recounted by Knicks play-by-play announcer Mike Breen, alleged that James had admonished Embiid for being late to a practice. Both James and Breen have since clarified and apologized for the report.
Breen shared the story during the broadcast of a preseason game between the Knicks and the 76ers, which he later acknowledged was based on misinformation. "I thought it would be an interesting anecdote to show LeBron’s leadership already on display in Philly," Breen told ESPN. "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."
James publicly refuted the story, calling it "lies." Embiid, speaking to reporters after his preseason debut against the Nets, questioned the origin and accuracy of the report. "Those type of things, I can’t understand," Embiid said. "One, it is not true, but then again, it’s like, ‘Why me?’ … I guess I’m Joel Embiid. I’ve been in that situation. I don’t usually talk when it comes to those [rumors]. So, it feels like I’m an easy target."
This situation occurs as Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, prepares for a season with heightened expectations for the 76ers, who have added veteran presence and star power. Embiid acknowledged the challenges of external noise potentially disrupting team focus. "It sucks, but what can you do? It’s unfortunate," he commented on Breen's anecdote. "I don’t know where that came from. It never happened. … I think we just got to focus on ourselves. There’s going to be a lot of outside noise to pull us apart from what we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to accomplish. So, it’s important that we stay together and we keep our [head] down."