LeBron James is calling out the media in defense of Joel Embiid.
The star Philadelphia 76ers center was a bit of piñata in the talking head sphere due to seemingly “ducking” the Nuggets and their center Nikola Jokic in a nationally televised affair last Saturday.
Embiid, who hasn’t played in Denver since 2019, seemed in line to play but was ultimately a late scratch due to a knee injury, even after warming up prior to the contest.
He received criticism for missing them game, and the team was fined $75,000 for failing to list Embiid on the injury report prior to his unexpected absence.
But Embiid, who ended up missing the team’s next game before getting injured against the Warriors on Tuesday, is now dealing with a left meniscus injury, and James took to X to play defense.
“Where are all the media outlets, tv media personalities, hot takes that talked so much [poop emoji] about Joel Embiid about missing those games when he knew what he was dealing with,” James wrote.
“Now he’s out with an injury because of it. Not 1 person has went back on tv or their dumbass podcast and apologized to that MAN!! No accountability.”
Despite not having Embiid in the lineup last weekend, the Sixers gave a stiff challenge to the defending champions, losing 111-105 to a full Nuggets squad, who were led by Jokic, who recorded 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
And on Thursday with no Embiid, the Sixers outlasted the Jazz in Utah, 127-124, behind a 51-point explosion from Tyrese Maxey.
The team is now 4-9 without the 2022-23 MVP in the lineup this season.
It’s still unknown how long Embiid will be out for, and the exact extent of his injury is not clear.