Joel Embiid Goes OFF at Paul George For Leaking The 76ers’ Private Messages!

Joel Embiid is going off on Paul George after finding out he allegedly leaked private 76ers team conversations to the public. And honestly, Joel has every right to be upset. Those leaks are exposing behind-the-scenes cracks within the organization like never before.

The betrayal that shook Philadelphia began during the 2024–25 NBA season. What was supposed to be a year of championship aspirations quickly turned into a nightmare. The 76ers had a stacked roster with Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. Expectations were sky-high, especially with the addition of a former All-Star in George. But by November, they had stumbled to a disastrous 2–11 start, and that record wasn’t just about poor performance on the court—it revealed much deeper problems beneath the surface.

Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP and the team’s franchise cornerstone, was reportedly showing up late to team events, including meetings. This behavior created friction within a locker room that desperately needed unity. Tensions came to a head when veteran guard Kyle Lowry requested a players-only meeting in November 2024. These meetings are sacred in professional sports, intended as private sanctuaries where players can speak candidly and resolve internal conflicts without the media’s involvement.

During that closed-door meeting, something unprecedented happened. Tyrese Maxey, despite being only 24 and much younger than Embiid, stepped up to confront the MVP about his chronic tardiness. It wasn’t a malicious attack or a power play—it was a young leader holding a teammate accountable and asking him to lead by example. Embiid acknowledged that the confrontation wasn’t a problem; he knew he’d been late. The real betrayal came afterward.

What was said in that meeting was never supposed to leave the room. But the very next day, ESPN reported specific details about the exchange between Maxey and Embiid. This wasn’t vague speculation about team tension—it was a detailed leak of a private moment meant to remain confidential. Embiid was furious. He described the person who leaked the information as “a real piece of ****” and made it clear this wasn’t just about being embarrassed—it was about being betrayed by someone within the team he was supposed to trust.

Veteran analyst Stephen A. Smith emphasized how serious the breach was. The sanctity of the locker room is about more than secrecy—it’s about fostering an environment where honesty and accountability can thrive. Leaking private team matters destroys that possibility. The 76ers were already struggling with injuries and trying to find chemistry with new additions like Paul George. The leak didn’t just expose a problem; it poisoned the atmosphere at the worst possible time.

Interestingly, Paul George also expressed frustration over the leak on his podcast, saying the meeting was not confrontational enough to justify making it public. Still, the damage was done. The leak turned what should have been an internal leadership moment into a public referendum on Embiid’s professionalism.

The fallout was huge. In a July 2025 ESPN profile by Doun Akintoye, Embiid revealed that he knows who leaked the meeting but has chosen not to disclose the name publicly. He simply said, “The past is the past,” but it’s clear from the profile that the betrayal still bothers him deeply. He’s had to interact with teammates and staff while knowing one of them had crossed a line that can’t be uncrossed.

That betrayal led Embiid to make a drastic decision. He declared that he would no longer participate in any team meetings moving forward, saying, “It’s hard being around people that do those sorts of stuff. Once you cross that line, you can’t expect me to be part of a team meeting again. That’s just not going to happen.” This wasn’t just an emotional reaction—it was a calculated choice by the team’s most important player to protect himself from further hurt.

The implications of that decision are massive. Team meetings are essential for resolving internal issues and building chemistry. By removing himself from that process, Embiid has effectively altered the team’s leadership structure. It creates a vacuum others must fill, but also highlights the deep lack of trust in the locker room. Embiid even hinted that the leaker may still be part of the organization, saying, “There’s a chance they’re still around,” which only adds to the tension and suspicion in the air.

This betrayal didn’t just affect Embiid emotionally. According to Akintoye, he sought therapy during the season to deal with the mental toll. “He’s learning that he needs people more,” the reporter wrote, “but also learning to please them less.” It reflects a shift in Embiid’s approach to leadership—less about keeping others happy, and more about protecting himself from toxic dynamics.

On the court, the consequences were just as dire. The Sixers finished the season with a 24–58 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016–17. Embiid only played 19 games due to a lingering knee injury that eventually required surgery. Paul George also had knee issues, and Maxey was sidelined by a hamstring strain. The trio played just 15 games together all season, spending only six total minutes on the court as a unit.

The leak turned out to be more than a momentary scandal. It symbolized everything wrong with the organization. What was supposed to be a turning point became the start of a downward spiral, both on and off the court. The meeting was meant to fix the team’s problems. Instead, it fractured them beyond repair.

This incident is far from isolated in NBA history. Leaks have destroyed teams before. From the Shaq-Kobe era in Los Angeles to the Kevin Durant–Draymond Green fallout in Golden State, leaked information has often turned championship-caliber rosters into toxic environments. The Miami Heat’s Big Three faced similar issues, and even the 2016 Cavaliers had to overcome damaging leaks between LeBron James and Tyronn Lue. The Brooklyn Nets’ failed superteam with Durant, Kyrie, and Harden was also marred by internal drama and persistent leaks.

The pattern is always the same: once trust is broken, it’s almost impossible to rebuild. Players stop speaking openly, paranoia sets in, and the team suffers. That’s exactly what’s happening with the Sixers now. Embiid’s withdrawal from team meetings isn’t just a personal choice—it’s a symbol of a broken culture.

And while he hasn’t named names, his silence speaks volumes.