**Title:** Joel Embiid Reveals Rift with James Harden After Sixers Tenure
**Meta Description:** Joel Embiid shares that he is no longer in contact with James Harden, reflecting on their time together with the Philadelphia 76ers.
**URL Slug:** joel-embiid-james-harden-rift-sixers
**Headline:** Joel Embiid Opens Up About His Broken Relationship with James Harden
In a recent interview, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid disclosed that he is no longer in communication with his former teammate James Harden. The duo, known for their impressive synergy on the court, formed one of the most formidable partnerships in the NBA. However, after nearly two seasons together, Embiid expressed his disappointment over the current state of their relationship.
Embiid revealed to ESPN, “No one knows this, but even James [Harden] is not talking to me.” He elaborated on the emotional toll of being perceived as the cause of their fallout, stating, “That’s the part I don’t like about being ‘that guy,’ because it puts you in the middle of those situations. If you ask James, he probably believes I had something to do with him not being here. And I’m just like, ‘I won the scoring title. You won the assists title. We had a pick-and-roll that was unstoppable.’”
The rift is particularly painful for Embiid, who noted, “It hurts when you feel like you haven’t done anything wrong. When you think you have a relationship like that with somebody … you lose a lot.”
Harden joined the 76ers in 2022 following a high-profile trade with the Brooklyn Nets, which sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks to New York. The acquisition of Harden positioned the Sixers as serious championship contenders. However, the team faced early playoff exits in consecutive seasons, falling in the conference semifinals.
During the 2022-23 season, Embiid achieved his first MVP award, averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, while Harden led the league in assists with an average of 10.7 per game. Despite their individual successes, tensions escalated after the playoffs, with Harden expressing dissatisfaction with the team’s management, particularly targeting president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. Harden felt entitled to a max contract and subsequently requested a trade when his demands were not met.
The situation intensified when Harden publicly labeled Morey a “liar,” declaring he would “never be a part of an organization that (Morey’s) a part of.” This culminated in Harden’s trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, marking a significant shift in the dynamics of the 76ers.
As the NBA season progresses, the implications of this fallout between Embiid and Harden will be closely monitored by fans and analysts alike, as both players navigate their respective paths in the league.
**FAQ:**
**Q: What led to the fallout between Joel Embiid and James Harden?**
A: The fallout appears to stem from misunderstandings and tensions regarding Harden’s contract situation and his subsequent trade request, which Embiid feels he was unfairly implicated in.
