“F**k it, James Harden isn’t bringing sh*t”: Kevin Durant had final say on the Ben Simmons to the Nets trade due to poor play from Harden

Samir Mehdi | 16/02/2022
“F**k it, James Harden isn’t bringing sh*t”: Kevin Durant had final say on the Ben Simmons to the Nets trade due to poor play from Harden

Kevin Durant was the ultimate decision maker in sending James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers and bringing Ben Simmons to Brooklyn. 

The biggest trade that could’ve happened on February 10th, 2022, happened. James Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, with pieces around the periphery to round out the transactions. 

In his first postgame presser as a 76er, James Harden didn’t hesitate in letting the NBA world know that Philly was always his first choice. It’s unclear how true this is as he reiterated last year that he was glad to share the floor with his former OKC teammate, Kevin Durant, once again.

Also read: “James Harden was always disrespecting Kevin Durant and Steve Nash”: NBA Insider reveals shocking details about the now 76ers’ star’s behavior with the Nets

When asked about his relationship with Kyrie Irving, James let it be known that there was no bad blood between the two. “Very minimal (Irving’s vaccine situation’s impact). Honestly, me and Kyrie are really good friends. Whatever he was going through and still going through, that’s his personal preference.” 

Kevin Durant spoke about the blockbuster during the All-Star draft saying both teams got what they wanted, hinting towards the Nets perhaps not wanting Harden any longer. 

Kevin Durant pulled the trigger on the James Harden trade. 

Sean Marks made it a point to involve the star players on decisions to be made that could help improve the roster. This included Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris, and James Harden. When the latter of those guys wanted out, KD signed off on the trade, essentially having final say in the matter.

According to Jake Fischer, an insider with direct knowledge of what transpired within the Brooklyn Nets organization revealed that “Kevin was like: ‘F—k it. James isn’t bringing s—t. He added. “I don’t think that would have happened without Kevin making that decision.”

Also read: “I made Michael Jordan uncomfortable”: Gary Payton breaks down how he lead the Sonics defensively to two straight wins against the Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals

Given just how poor his body language was on the court without his co-stars, putting up 4 points in his last game as a Brooklyn Net, Durant felt as though moving on was the best course of action. 

It’ll be interesting to see where Harden and Durant’s relationship with one another stands following this trade between the Sixers and the Nets.  

Post Edited By: Samir Mehdi
James Harden Kevin Durant nets Sixers

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Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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