"Embiid was late and LeBron scolded him" — Caster who spread the rumor faces "Stop lying!" rebuttal, ultimately apologizes

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Mike Breen, a veteran broadcast caster who incorrectly reported an anecdote from the Philadelphia 76ers' training camp, ultimately bowed his head after receiving a public rebuttal from LeBron James (42).

According to ESPN on the 8th (Korean time), Breen admitted that the training ground anecdote about LeBron and Joel Embiid (32) he shared on air was untrue and issued an official apology.

The controversy began during the broadcast of the preseason opener between Philadelphia and the New York Knicks held on the 6th. Breen, who handled the MSG Network broadcast, stated during the fourth quarter that "according to a story I heard before the game," "Embiid arrived at the training ground several minutes late, and LeBron strongly pressed him and scolded him severely."

However, this was baseless. On the 7th, the following day, LeBron took direct aim at the broadcast content through his SNS, stating, "Embiid is never late. Stop lying," delivering a sharp rebuttal.

Ultimately, caster Breen bowed his head via ESPN. Breen stated, "I heard it from someone I trust, so I didn't realize it was fabricated," adding, "But since LeBron said such an incident did not happen, I believe him. I apologize for broadcasting untrue content and causing controversy."

He further added, "It was merely intended to praise LeBron's leadership in correcting even minor details like a player being 1 or 2 minutes late to practice, and the team's professionalism," and continued, "It seems the fact that the other party was Embiid made it more of a topic. I have always been an ardent fan of Embiid, and I am sorry for subjecting him to unnecessary attention."

Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse (59) also did not hide his bewilderment. Coach Nurse met with local reporters and stated, "Embiid is maintaining excellent physical condition and is working harder at practice than anyone else," adding, "I am simply amazed as to why this kind of story is coming out now."

Meanwhile, LeBron and Embiid, who rested in the first preseason game against the Knicks, are scheduled to begin full coordination starting from the game against the Brooklyn Nets on the 9th. Philadelphia also plans to conduct a "small center" experiment utilizing players like LeBron to fill the void left by Ariel Hukporti, who is out for the season due to an Achilles tendon rupture.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original