James Harden and Joel Embiid No Longer on Speaking Terms Following 76ers Split - Deep NBA Shortcomings Revealed

What began as one of the NBA’s most anticipated partnerships has ended in disappointment and silence. James Harden and Joel Embiid, once the heart of the Philadelphia 76ers’ title aspirations, are no longer speaking—marking a personal and professional split that has left a lasting scar on both stars.

Joel Embiid and James Harden's Pair Promised Greatness

When James Harden joined the Sixers in 2022, teaming up with Embiid was expected to create one of the league’s most dominant duos. For a while, it worked. Joel Embiid captured the 2022-23 NBA scoring title and was named league MVP, while Harden led the league in assists. Their synergy, especially in the pick-and-roll, made Philadelphia a legitimate title contender.However, postseason success never materialized. The Sixers fell short in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals after blowing a 3-2 lead to the Boston Celtics, ending in a crushing Game 7 defeat.

The loss triggered frustration within the organization—and between the stars.

How Harden and Embiid's Connection Fell Apart

Despite public displays of camaraderie, cracks quickly formed behind the scenes. After just 72 games together, the Sixers traded James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. According to Joel Embiid, that decision didn’t just end their basketball partnership—it destroyed their friendship.“No one knows this, but even James is not talking to me,” Embiid revealed in an interview with ESPN.

“That’s the part I don’t like about being ‘that guy,’ because it puts you in the middle of those situations. Because if you ask James, he probably believes I had something to do with him not being here.”Attempts to reach out to James Harden since the trade have reportedly gone unanswered. Joel Embiid expressed deep emotional pain over the situation, saying, “It hurts when you feel like you haven’t done anything wrong… you lose a lot.”

Misplaced Blame and Lingering Tensions Between James and Joel

While most of the public tension focused on James Harden’s feud with Sixers President Daryl Morey—whom Harden called “a liar” during a promo event in China—the fallout with Joel Embiid remained mostly private. Sources suggest Harden may have believed Embiid had some influence over his departure, though no evidence supports that claim.The fracture was particularly hurtful for Joel Embiid, who had grown close enough to James Harden to invite him to his wedding.

Their friendship, once genuine and warm, now lies dormant in silence.

Aftermath in Philadelphia and Los Angeles

In the wake of the breakup, the Sixers have struggled. Embiid was sidelined for much of the following season due to a knee injury, and the team slid down the standings—failing to recover the momentum they had built with Harden. The quick dismantling of the roster now appears to have backfired.Meanwhile, Harden seems content with his new role in Los Angeles.

He’s appeared at peace in public and focused on building a future with his new team—and his partner—off the court.The Harden-Embiid split highlights the fragile nature of even the most promising NBA relationships. Behind every stat line and highlight reel lies a complex web of egos, decisions, and emotions. What was once viewed as a potential championship duo is now a cautionary tale about trust, loyalty, and the human cost of professional sports.Also read: NBA Vet Iman Shumpert Breaks Down the Real Gameplan Behind the Clippers’ Bradley Beal SigningAs fans look back, they’ll remember the brilliance James Harden and Joel Embiid displayed together—but also the abrupt, unresolved silence that brought their era to an end. Whether that silence ever breaks remains one of the NBA’s most lingering questions.