Sell The Team: Josh Harris appears in newest Epstein File release; he shouldn’t be involved with the 76ers any longer

76ers owner Josh Harris appeared in the newest release of the Epstein Files, marking the second time his name has popped up in the DOJ’s ongoing release.

Josh Harris doesn’t need to be charged with a crime for this to be a problem. He doesn’t need to be accused of anything illegal. He just needs to be involved enough, and the newly released Epstein files show that he was.

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That’s why it’s time for Josh Harris to sell the Philadelphia 76ers.

This isn’t about tabloid outrage or guilt by association hysteria. It’s about optics, judgment, and whether the face of a franchise should be someone whose name appears scores of times in emails with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein was already convicted of soliciting sex from a minor.

That’s the baseline. Everything else builds from there.

Josh Harris and the Epstein Files Are a Distraction the Sixers Don’t Need

The DOJ document dump makes one thing very clear: Josh Harris had an ongoing professional relationship with Epstein from roughly 2013 to 2016. Emails. Phone calls. Schedulers. At least one confirmed breakfast meeting at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. Continued correspondence years after Epstein’s conviction.

No evidence of sexual misconduct by Harris. That matters. But it doesn’t end the conversation.

The problem is that Harris knew exactly who Epstein was by that point. Everyone did. This wasn’t the pre-2008 gray area. Epstein had already pleaded guilty. He was already radioactive. And yet Harris continued to engage, attend meetings, respond to emails, and allow intermediaries to work with Epstein on financial matters.

For an NBA owner, that’s indefensible judgment.

You don’t get to say “I didn’t do anything illegal” and expect that to be the end of it when you’re running a major sports franchise that depends on public trust, league credibility, and fan loyalty.

This Isn’t About Criminal Guilt. It’s About Leadership.

Josh Harris is not on trial. The article from the Philadelphia Inquirer on the case goes out of its way to state there’s no indication of sexual misconduct. Fine. But owners aren’t judged on criminal thresholds. They’re judged on leadership, standards, and the company they keep.

And the Epstein files show repeated attempts by Epstein to pull Harris into deeper financial and personal conversations — attempts that Harris sometimes deflected, but never fully shut down.

He didn’t cut ties. He didn’t draw a hard line. He kept responding.

At best, that’s poor judgment. At worst, it’s willful blindness to the reality of who Epstein was and what continued association signaled.

Either way, it reflects poorly on the organization Harris owns.

Josh Harris Has Already Been a Bad Owner — This Just Accelerates the Clock

Let’s not pretend this is happening in a vacuum. Josh Harris has already built a reputation in Philadelphia as a detached, spreadsheet-first owner who prioritizes asset value over championships. Chronic underachievement. Front-office instability. Endless patience for dysfunction.

Now add this.

The Sixers don’t need their owner dragged into national headlines over Epstein emails every time a new document release drops. They don’t need opposing fanbases, media, and players wondering why the league still allows this ownership group to remain untouched.

The NBA has forced owners out for less. Not crimes, but embarrassments that threatened the league’s image.

This qualifies.

Josh Harris Selling the Team Is the Cleanest Outcome

There’s no benefit to dragging this out. Harris selling the Sixers doesn’t require an admission of wrongdoing. It doesn’t require legal action. It’s simply an acknowledgment that the franchise is bigger than one billionaire’s balance sheet.

New ownership would reset the narrative overnight. Players wouldn’t be answering questions about DOJ releases. Fans wouldn’t be defending the indefensible. The league wouldn’t have to pretend this is fine.

Josh Harris can walk away wealthier than ever. The Sixers can finally move forward without baggage that has nothing to do with basketball.

That’s the adult solution.

Josh Harris Should Sell — Not Because He’s Guilty, but Because This Is Over

This isn’t cancel culture. This isn’t moral panic. It’s reality.

Josh Harris chose to remain professionally engaged with Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction. That choice is now public. It’s documented. And it’s not going away.

Ownership is about trust. That trust is gone.

For the good of the franchise, the city, and the league, Josh Harris should sell the team, now.

Editor’s Note: Harris has released this public statement regarding the emails. You can take it however you want. I still don’t want the guy involved with the Sixers in any capacity, but that’s just me. You make your own judgement call.

Sixers/Devils/Commanders owner Josh Harris has released a statement through a spokesperson regarding his name appearing in Jeffrey Epstein files (via ABC's DC affiliate) pic.twitter.com/99HOccw9eg

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 31, 2026