Around the Beat: A Denied Embiid Story and Three Unresolved…

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 8

The local reporting corps spent the day on a denied story and a center depth chart with no clean answer. None of it moves what the injury list already says about who's actually available tonight.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Did LeBron really call out Embiid for being late?

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that broadcaster Mike Breen apologized after James refuted the claim on air. The Sixer Sense's Jordanna Clark and Nicolas Kyle Pring, plus the Inquirer's Chris Hine, all framed it as noise, not fact. The injury report backs that framing up: both Embiid and James were listed as cleared today, same as Maxey.

Is there any truth to LeBron playing some minutes at center?

The Inquirer's Gina Mizell listed every backup center option behind Embiid, from Adem Bona down to the idea of LeBron James filling that spot in a pinch. Nothing on the roster backs that up beyond this preseason stretch — Bona is still the only true big working his way back from a foot and leg issue, not fully cleared yet.

Does Anfernee Simons look closer to playing?

The Sixer Sense's Justin Grasso got clarity on the absence, and Mizell's practice notes had him as a partial participant Tuesday. Neither outlet reported a change to the hamstring issue itself, and the team said Simons won't play tonight at Brooklyn or Saturday at Boston — lining up with a return eyed around Oct. 16.

What about Bona and Barlow this week?

Liberty Ballers' Josh Grieb and Mizell both filed fresh updates: Bona has progressed to on-court work, while Barlow is still fully out with his back wrapped after practice. The team isn't playing either one in Brooklyn or Boston this week, matching the same Oct. 16 timeline already on the books for both.

Is Caleb Love making a real push for minutes?

Liberty Ballers' Bryan Toporek counted Love among several training-camp battles worth watching, and the Sixer Sense's Nicolas Kyle Pring went further, writing he could unsettle the rotation. The roster backs the opportunity: with Lowry, Beauchamp and Martin all gone since Sept. 21, the backup guard spot behind Maxey and Simons is open for someone to take.

The verdictNone of today's beat reporting changes anything on the injury sheet — Embiid and James are both cleared, Simons, Bona and Barlow are still short of this week's two preseason games, and the backup center answer still isn't on the roster.

Did the Sixers confirm LeBron called out Joel Embiid?

No. LeBron James denied it on the record, and ESPN reported broadcaster Mike Breen apologized for repeating the claim.

Will Anfernee Simons play against the Nets or Celtics this week?

No. The team has said Simons won't play in either preseason game, with a return eyed for Oct. 16.