The NBA witnessed one of its most surprising trades in 2021 when James Harden was sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons. This James Harden Ben Simmons trade caught many off guard, especially former Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who recently revealed during a Twitch stream that he was completely shocked by Harden’s sudden exit from the team.
Irving described the confusion and disbelief within the Nets locker room, emphasizing how no one seemed aware of Simmons’s situation before the trade was finalized. He recalled discussing championship hopes with Harden just before the trade request surfaced.
So when James got traded for Ben, I don’t think we knew the landscape of where Ben was at, right? I don’t think we knew where Ben was at. So when that trade happened, it shocked a lot of people. It shocked me. Shit, I was talking to James one day. I’m like, Shit, bro, we’re about to go with these championships. And it was like a day later, asked for a trade,
Irving said.
It shocked me. Shit I was talking to James one day and I’m like shit bro we bout to go win these championships and a day later, he asked for a trade. I understood completely though
—Kyrie Irving on the Nets trading James Harden for Ben Simmons
Irving’s Understanding Despite the Sudden Trade
Although bewildered by Harden’s abrupt departure, Kyrie made clear that he held no ill feelings toward his former teammate. He explained that, after speaking with Harden personally, he came to comprehend the reasons behind the trade request, particularly the uncertainty Harden felt during the season.
And I’ve had my conversation with James. I told him, I said, ‘Bro, I understood completely. I understood completely what you were doing, man. I understood, like, you’re in the middle of the season, you’re unsure about what I got going on,’
Irving added.
Pressure Increased on the Nets After Acquiring Ben Simmons
Though understanding Harden’s decision, Kyrie illuminated the difficulties the Nets faced once Simmons joined the team. He highlighted how the trade led to heightened pressure for the organization, as Simmons was already navigating plenty of external scrutiny, which affected team dynamics.
But when that happened and we got Ben, a lot more pressure started to come in on our franchise. Because now not only do we have this going on, but also we have a situation that Ben is dealing with where everybody is trying to micromanage the spun narrative. Like, he’s doing this, he’s doing that. So it wasn’t a fair trade at the outset, right? It was not at all. I didn’t feel like that was a fair trade,
Irving said.
Details and Ramifications of the Trade Between Nets and 76ers
The trade sent James Harden and Paul Millsap to the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Brooklyn Nets received Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, a 2022 unprotected first-round pick, and a protected first-round pick for 2027. Both Simmons and Harden eventually left the teams they had joined soon after the blockbuster swap, signaling the unstable aftermath of this high-profile transaction.
This trade not only reshaped the rosters but also impacted the strategies and expectations of both franchises. Kyrie Irving’s revelations offer a glimpse inside the pressure and uncertainty that followed the deal for the Nets, demonstrating how such moves extend beyond just player exchanges to affect locker room morale and team cohesion.