LeBron backs Embiid amid media flap: Atlantic division roundup

There were no games on the Atlantic division slate yesterday, but the headlines still revolved around its biggest names. With the 2026-27 season fast approaching, the defending champion New York Knicks and LeBron James’ Philadelphia 76ers remain at the center of the league’s biggest storylines.

Philadelphia 76ers: LeBron stands up for Embiid, Breen apologizes

LeBron James took to social media to deny a televised anecdote about Joel Embiid’s alleged lateness to practice. His firm rebuttal prompted longtime play-by-play voice Mike Breen to apologize publicly for repeating the story on air. Beyond the immediate controversy, the incident underscores LeBron’s outsized influence in Philadelphia, where the 76ers have opened the Atlantic campaign at 1-0.

New York Knicks: champs under scrutiny, Brown battling for a job

Fresh off a title, the Knicks are described as being at the heart of the major questions shaping the 2026-27 season. How a defending champion responds with everyone gunning for them is one of the league’s defining plots. Around the edges of that star-studded core, Bruce Brown is fighting to earn a spot with New York. His roster battle adds another wrinkle to a team trying to balance continuity from a championship run with tweaks after an 0-1 divisional start.

Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets: integrating stars, showcasing youth

In Toronto, Kawhi Leonard is easing his way into the Raptors’ system, with the emphasis clearly on gradual progress as the team builds around its new focal point despite an early 0-1 Atlantic record. In Brooklyn, several young Nets have been standing out in preseason, pushing for roles as the regular season unfolds and the team sits at 1-0 in the division. With the Boston Celtics yet to play, the Atlantic hierarchy will only truly take shape once these parallel projects — integrating stars, sorting out rotation battles and developing youth — collide on the floor.