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Joel Embiid and James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers
With a game in Cleveland, Ohio, the Philadelphia 76ers faced their former superstar guard, James Harden.
Although the Sixers’ center, Joel Embiid, was not on the court for the matchup, he was still on the trip with his team. After the game, he approached his former teammate for a simple greeting.
Typically, it’s not a big deal to see opponents—especially former teammates—share a moment after a game. However, this instance was sort of a big deal, considering Harden left Philadelphia on awkward terms.
And if NBA fans’ speculation on social media is correct, Embiid confirmed that Harden was frustrated with him due to his supposed comment to the 11-time All-Star following the action.
NBA Fans Guess What Joel Embiid Said To James Harden
via @FullCourtPass: Joel Embiid to James Harden 👀
“I know you mad at me but Ima say what’s up… I know, I know, just don’t be mad at me for it.”
@AlbertS004: First time interacting since he left Philly
@SwishQuest: The real question is… did Harden actually respond or just walk away?
@basketball_208: Joel real for that
@waymoflydenu: That was noble
Harden and Embiid didn’t have any public disputes, but the former player’s breakup with the Sixers was very much public. All of the frustrations he aired out during interviews and appearances were aimed at Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey.
Although Harden had a pre-Philly relationship with Morey, working together with the President of Basketball Ops for nearly a decade on the Houston Rockets, they fell out just a couple of years into their Sixers stint.
In 2021-2022, the Sixers traded for James Harden, who forced his way out of the situation with the Brooklyn Nets. After 21 games on the Sixers, Harden re-signed on a discounted two-year deal. The second season was a player option.
GettyJames Harden, Joel Embiid
The belief was that Harden returned to the Sixers on a lower price tag with the hopes of landing a significant long-term contract later on down the line. Harden would later claim he was made a verbal promise, which was broken. The Sixers strongly deny that it was the case, and the NBA didn’t find any wrongdoing when they looked into the situation.
Still, Harden was frustrated enough to pick up his player option and force a trade. That’s how he ended up with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023-2024. Where does Embiid fit into all of this? Well, that’s still a mystery.
When Harden returned to Philadelphia for the first time as a member of the Clippers, he made it clear that he no longer had any communication with Embiid. Monday’s interaction between the two might have been the first time they’ve spoken since Harden’s 2023 departure.
via @ZPalmer13: Embiid knew what was going on behind closed doors
@BigJohnson104: Morey look what you ruined
@BSmoove8: Morey fault
@1ChrisG: Harden made him Win MVP he knows that
A Short Chapter
The Harden-Embiid duo was short-lived.
During the star guard’s run in Philly, he managed to play in 72 games with Embiid. During their second and final season together, Embiid was named the league’s MVP for the first time, after he landed strong consideration for multiple years prior.
The Sixers managed to make the playoffs in both seasons during the Embiid-Harden era. In their final run (2022-2023), the Sixers dropped their second-round series against the Boston Celtics. The series went to a Game 7 on the road.
While there seemed to be a lot of promise and a lot of hope for the Embiid-Harden Sixers, the era was cut way short. Embiid is still searching for answers in Philadelphia, while Harden is hunting his first championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso
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