LeBron James Is Now Joel Embiid's Babysitter...and Kendrick Perkins Thinks Philly Just Adopted a Champion!

LeBron is now Joel Embiid's adopted babysitter, leading Kendrick Perkins to believe he's a champion...

By Errol Marks • Jul 27, 2026

Well, we've officially reached the point where LeBron James isn't just chasing championships anymore: he's apparently handing out parenting lessons.

According to Kendrick Perkins, Joel Embiid has finally found what he has been missing his entire career. Not another All-Star. Not another MVP. Not another "Process."

A 41-year-old basketball dad.

Perkins believes LeBron is about to unlock the best version of Joel Embiid because nobody in the NBA understands preparation, basketball IQ, and taking care of your body better than King James.

Translation? LeBron's first practice in Philadelphia is probably going to sound like this:

"Joel... put the cheesesteak down."

"Joel... you're stretching today."

"Joel... no, sleeping until noon isn't recovery."

"Joel... ice bath. NOW!"

Listen, Embiid has played with everybody. Ben Simmons disappeared faster than free pretzels at a sports bar. Jimmy Butler packed his bags before anyone could blink. James Harden showed up looking like he was auditioning for a beard commercial. Paul George? Well...Philadelphia is still waiting for that experiment to pay off.

Now enters LeBron James, the man who spends millions every year keeping his body in better shape than most 25-year-olds.

Meanwhile, Embiid's knees have more maintenance appointments than a 2008 Honda Civic.

Kendrick Perkins actually might have a point. LeBron has turned role players into millionaires. He's made shooters famous. He's made centers look like All-Stars. If anyone can convince Embiid that every regular-season game isn't optional, it's probably the guy who's entering his 24th NBA season and still looks like he could drop 30 points on your favorite team before breakfast.

The scary part? LeBron doesn't even have to be "LeBron." He can average 18 points, 8 assists, control the offense, and let Embiid dominate while making the game easier for everyone around him.

That's exactly what Philadelphia has needed. But of course, this is Philadelphia. If the Sixers lose two games in November, sports radio callers will already be demanding that LeBron retire, Embiid get traded, and the Liberty Bell enter the transfer portal.

Nothing changes there.

But if Embiid actually stays healthy—and that's the biggest "if" since the Jets told us, "This is our year"—then the 76ers instantly become one of the biggest threats in the Eastern Conference.

LeBron brings leadership.

Embiid brings MVP talent.

Tyrese Maxey brings speed.

Now all Philadelphia needs is a doctor on the bench and enough bubble wrap to survive April.

As for Kendrick Perkins, he says we're about to see the greatest version of Joel Embiid, and we'll find out soon enough. Because if LeBron can't fix Embiid, then nobody can.

Welcome to Philadelphia, King James. Now go teach "The Process" how to process a full NBA season.

I’m from a small town in Long Island. Growing up I was very competitive and very into sports. I followed teams like the Yankees, Jets, Knicks and the Islanders. I always had a love for sports, and my whole life I had dreams to become a professional athlete. However, this was short lived due to a knee injury. After many years of trying to figure out of what I wanted to do with my career, I found my true passion for radio. After college, I took part in a mentorship at CBS Sports Radio where I also had the opportunity to help produce with my mentor, Dan Schwartzman, host of “Going Deep” on NBC Sports Radio.