Kevin Durant praises Ben Simmons' role as an all-around player
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons are looking to lead the Brooklyn Nets to their first championship in franchise history. Durant recently opened up about what it's like to play with Simmons, ahead of the latter's Nets debut.
Speaking with Eddie Gonzalez of Boardroom, Durant stated:
"It's been an adjustment because Ben can do so much with the ball from bringing the ball up, setting the screen and rolling to the rim, guarding the perimeter so you got to be on point as a teammate to playing off of and playing around them and then in transition that's been the biggest adjustment."
Durant added:
"Practice, first couple days of training camp, I'm running up the court, he throws the ball and it hit me in the side of the face. Everybody's like 'oh', I'm like 'no that's my fault because I'm supposed to be looking back'. I'm so used to just running to my spot and then we slowly walked the ball up but kicked the ball ahead, he's contagious with how he passes the ball and defensively there for everybody."
The Nets trio certainly possess the talent to compete for the title, but it remains to be seen how their three stars will fit with one another. If they can make it work, it is likely that the Nets will be in title contention.
Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons have combined for
22 All Star appearances
14 All-NBA selections
3 ROY
2 All-Defensive
How far can this Brooklyn trio go? https://t.co/YdjqRYXB3Y
Watch Kevin Durant discuss playing with Ben Simmons below (starting at the 7:52 mark):
Ben Simmons game adjustment for Nets
The Brooklyn Nets roster may be perfectly constructed to fit Ben Simmons' game. While they did not build the roster around Simmons, their surplus of outside shooting should allow Simmons to play in the paint in a way that he has been unable to thus far in his career.
The Nets *could* just run it back.
Kyrie Irving
Joe Harris
Kevin Durant
Ben Simmons
Nic Claxton
Bench:
Patty Mills
Seth Curry
Royce O’Neale
Cam Thomas
TJ Warren https://t.co/GR4319H0Iy
Although Simmons is yet to develop a jump shot, he is able to do just about everything else at a high level. Now playing alongside two of the best shooting superstars in the NBA, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Simmons will be able to focus on distributing. The Nets figure to possess one of the NBA's most lethal small-ball lineups. Most importantly, with Durant and Irving both entering the season with chips on their shoulders, there will be much less focus on Simmons.
Ben Simmons crucial for the Nets championship hopes
Many expect the Brooklyn Nets to be in title contention despite being swept in the first round of the postseason in 2021-2022. Much of that will depend on how their three stars are able to co-exist. On paper, the trio look like a perfect fit alongside one another, as Ben Simmons' shooting weakness is covered up by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving's shooting ability.
Simmons will need to be available and playing at his usual high level for the Nets to truly compete. His combination of playmaking and defense will be crucial to a Nets team that could use both. If the Nets stars are able to develop chemistry playing together, there is no reason that the team should not be in title contention.