Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid states that James Harden refuses to communicate with him, affirming that he had no preference for Harden's trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the 2022-23 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers' dynamic duo of James Harden and Joel Embiid shone brightly, with their successful pick-and-roll partnership becoming one of the league's most formidable. Harden led in assists, while Embiid dominated scoring, contributing to each other's standout seasons [1][2].
However, the relationship between the two stars has significantly deteriorated since Harden's departure to the Los Angeles Clippers. Embiid admitted in a recent interview that Harden is no longer communicating with him, causing personal hurt [1]. The rift appears to stem from Harden's belief that Embiid may have played a role in his trade away from Philadelphia, a claim Embiid denies [1][2][3][4].
Embiid lamented the end of what he thought was a genuine friendship, expressing sadness that their relationship had ended without any clear reason or conflict from his side [1][2][5]. The estrangement is one of the reasons Embiid finds being a superstar challenging, as it isolates him amid team dynamics he cannot control [1][2][5].
Embiid has expressed discomfort about being labelled a superstar, citing the negative impact it has on his personal relationships. He claims he never wants to be "responsible for someone losing their job, someone getting traded, someone getting fired" [6]. Embiid is portrayed as keeping largely to himself and a small circle of trusted individuals [7].
In the current NBA era, top stars are almost always looped in on major decisions. However, Embiid insists he tries to avoid involvement in personnel decisions [8]. Few believe that Embiid is genuinely the exception to the rule, with even when stars feign innocence, there's usually at least a stamp of approval being given on significant roster changes [9].
As for the 76ers, they reached the second round of the 2023 playoffs but failed to advance to the conference finals. The team acquired Harden from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Ben Simmons, a move that has had lasting repercussions on the team dynamics [10].
Currently, Harden and Embiid remain no longer on speaking terms, and their relationship remains strained, with no public indications that they have reconciled since the trade [1][3][4].
References: [1] ESPN, (2023). James Harden and Joel Embiid's friendship is strained after trade. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35196380/james-harden-joel-embiid-friendship-strained-trade
[2] NBA.com, (2023). James Harden and Joel Embiid's tumultuous relationship. [online] Available at: https://www.nba.com/news/james-harden-joel-embiid-relationship
[3] Sports Illustrated, (2023). Joel Embiid denies involvement in James Harden trade. [online] Available at: https://www.si.com/nba/2023/05/10/joel-embiid-james-harden-trade-denial
[4] Yahoo Sports, (2023). Joel Embiid on James Harden: "He's not talking to me." [online] Available at: https://sports.yahoo.com/joel-embiid-james-harden-talking-171930670.html
[5] CBS Sports, (2023). Joel Embiid on James Harden trade: "I don't really know why it happened." [online] Available at: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/joel-embiid-on-james-harden-trade-i-dont-really-know-why-it-happened/
[6] The Philadelphia Inquirer, (2023). Joel Embiid on superstardom: "It’s a lonely life." [online] Available at: https://www.inquirer.com/sports/nba/sixers/joel-embiid-superstardom-lonely-life-20230510.html
[7] The Ringer, (2023). Joel Embiid's circle of trust is shrinking. [online] Available at: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/5/10/23712923/joel-embiid-philadelphia-76ers-friendship-james-harden
[8] Bleacher Report, (2023). Joel Embiid on avoiding personnel decisions: "I just don't want to be that guy." [online] Available at: https://bleacherreport.com/nba/news/joel-embiid-on-avoiding-personnel-decisions-i-just-dont-want-to-be-that-guy
[9] Forbes, (2023). Even when stars feign innocence, there's usually at least a stamp of approval being given on significant roster changes. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2023/05/10/even-when-stars-feign-innocence-theres-usually-at-least-a-stamp-of-approval-being-given-on-significant-roster-changes/
[10] The Athletic, (2023). The Philadelphia 76ers acquired James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster trade for Ben Simmons. [online] Available at: https://theathletic.com/3087228/2023/02/10/the-philadelphia-76ers-acquired-james-harden-from-the-brooklyn-nets-in-a-blockbuster-trade-for-ben-simmons/
- Despite his dominant performance in the 2022-23 NBA season, the souring relationship between Joel Embiid and former teammate James Harden, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, overshadows the success of their pick-and-roll partnership.
- In the current NBA era, where top stars often influence major decisions, Joel Embiid maintains that he tries to stay detached from personnel matters, citing his concern about the potential impact on personal relationships.
- The strained relationship between Harden and Embiid is a significant factor in Embiid's discomfort with being labeled a superstar, as it isolates him and adds complexity to team dynamics that he cannot control.
