Joel Embiid on James Harden’s Departure

Joel Embiid recently spoke about his relationship with James Harden, mentioning that they have drifted apart since their time together in Philadelphia.

In an interview with ESPN, the Philadelphia 76ers star expressed his feelings about Harden, who had a short stint with the team before they parted ways unceremoniously. Embiid noted that not even Harden seems aware of the true nature of their situation. “It’s frustrating to be seen as ‘that guy,'” he stated, adding that he thinks Harden may wrongly assume he influenced his departure. Embiid highlighted their successful dynamics on the court, noting that while he won the scoring title, Harden secured the assist title, and their pick-and-roll was highly effective.

“It hurts when you feel like you’re not doing anything wrong,” he reflected. “When you think you have that kind of relationship with someone… you lose a lot.”

Harden was traded to the 76ers during the 2022 season in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond, along with two first-round picks. This move positioned the 76ers as strong contenders for the championship, but the partnership ultimately fell short as the team struggled in the playoffs, bowing out in the semifinals two consecutive years.

Despite this, Embiid’s time with Harden did lead to his winning the NBA MVP award during a full season together.

After their 2023 playoff exit, Harden expressed dissatisfaction with the organization, especially targeted towards Daryl Morey, the 76ers’ president of basketball operations, after not receiving a long-term maximum contract offer. He infamously called Morey a “liar” and felt disconnected from the team before being traded to the Clippers a few months later.

The fallout from Harden’s exit appears to have negatively impacted his relationship with Embiid as well.