Tyrese Haliburton opened up about his close bond with Joel Embiid

In a heartwarming display of camaraderie, Philadelphia 76ers' star Joel Embiid and Sacramento Kings' point guard Tyrese Haliburton recently had a conversation about Haliburton's recovery from an Achilles injury.

Embiid, who has been dealing with a chronic knee injury, only played 19 games for the 76ers during the 2024-25 season. The team is uncertain if he will be ready for training camp in the fall. On the other hand, Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and will be out for at least 15 months, missing the entire 2025-26 season.

The conversation between the two players took place off-season and was highlighted on the Fullcourt Pass Twitter account. The information was first shared on the Impaulsive podcast. A tweet about the conversation was posted by Legion Hoops on August 27, 2025.

Embiid and Haliburton have a close friendship off the court, a bond that was strengthened further after they won gold medals together with Team USA at the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. Since the Olympics, their friendship has grown even closer.

Haliburton mentioned that he is one of the few players close to Embiid. He also shared that Embiid rarely reaches out to other players, so the call was genuine. This sentiment was echoed by Haliburton when he stated that Embiid doesn't usually call anyone, making the conversation even more meaningful.

Embiid's health has been a concern for the 76ers in recent years. He has suffered several injuries during his seasons with the team, including a broken orbital bone in 2018, various foot injuries, and recurring issues with his knee and back that have caused him to miss multiple games and playoffs. In the past two regular seasons, Embiid has played 58 games for the 76ers and missed 106 games due to his knee injury.

Despite the challenges, Embiid has remained a pillar of strength for the team. His determination and resilience have not gone unnoticed by his teammates, especially Haliburton. The Sacramento point guard values their friendship with Embiid and has been a source of support for the centre during his recovery.

As for Haliburton, his recovery from the Achilles injury is ongoing. He recently posted a tweet with a picture of him jokingly asking Embiid to give his passport back, indicating that he is keeping a positive attitude throughout his rehabilitation process.

The friendship between Embiid and Haliburton serves as an inspiration to many, showing that even in the face of adversity, camaraderie and support can help players overcome challenges and come back stronger.