Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid claims that his former teammate and current Los Angeles Clippers star isn't talking to him. Find out more about what Embiid revealed.
Clippers Star 'Not Talking' to 76ers Star, Joel Embiid Claims originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia 76ers have attempted to pair Joel Embiid with other NBA stars. He started with Ben Simmons, who was his 6-foot-9 facilitator early in his career. Although he wasn't an aggressive scorer, Simmons helped Embiid emerge as a star. That was followed by Jimmy Butler, who formed a Big 3 with them for a short stint.
Then, came James Harden. It was like Embiid was playing with a better version of Ben Simmons. A big guard who can score from anywhere and formed an unstoppable dynamic with the 2023 MVP. Additionally, Tyrese Maxey emerged as a star in his third year.
Now, Embiid has a Big 3 with Paul George and Maxey. Although their first season wasn't a success, they've shown promise in the 15 games they shared the court last season.
Embiid was recently interviewed by ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, where they talked about his response to his critics. The star player also revealed the shocking truth about his current relationship with Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden.
"No one knows this, but even James [Harden] is not talking to me. That's the part I don't like about being 'that guy,' because it puts you in the middle of those situations," Embiid revealed. "Because if you ask James, he probably believes I had something to do with him not being here."
"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."
Joel Embiid reveals that James Harden doesn’t speak to him anymore
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 16, 2025
“No one knows this, but even James [Harden] is not talking to me. 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… pic.twitter.com/ThHfbBBbpX
Harden's breakup with the 76ers wasn't pretty. In 2023, everyone thought he'd stay with the organization after he picked up his $35.6 million player option. Following that, however, he criticized Daryl Morey, the franchise's team president of basketball operations.
He stated that Morey was a "liar" and Harden expressed his disinterest in playing for an organization that employed the executive. That led to him getting traded to the Clippers for Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Kenyon Martin Jr. and Robert Covington. Philly also received a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a pick swap, and cash considerations from the deal.
Related: Joel Embiid's Ex-Teammate's Candid Reaction to 76ers Star's Knee Issues
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
