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One of the biggest pieces of news in the NBA in recent weeks was the deadline-day blockbuster trade deal which saw the Brooklyn Nets send James Harden to Philadelphia in a package for Ben Simmons.
The 25-year-old Australian is regarded as one of the most gifted players in the NBA, but he has been sidelined for this entire season after requesting a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. This move to Brooklyn has fans excited, while Nets coach Steve Nash reckons Simmons will have a major impact for his team.
“Ben does 1,000 things on the basketball court, and shooting is not one that I’m dying to see,” Nash said. “He’s an All-Star basketball player and has incredible potential to affect games with all the other things he does … I want him to get out there and be dynamic.”
However, not everyone is as fulsome in their praise of Simmons. Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris wished the Australian well but was happy that the saga involving him and the franchise was over, while 76ers’ star man Joel Embiid was less kind.
“It was one of those situations where obviously, he wasn’t playing this year,” said Harris. “I think just for his standpoint, he’s in a situation now where he seems happy with so I’m happy for him in that regard, but when it comes to our side, that is resolved and this is our group here.”
Embiid, meanwhile, is much happier having Harden than Simmons: “It’s unfortunate winning was not the biggest factor,” he said of his former teammate. “It’s unfortunate that for him having his own team and, I guess, being a star was more his priorities.”
He added, “It’s James Harden. One of the best players in the league. MVP. It’s pretty exciting. You add someone like that, your chances to win the championship are bigger.
“It’s unfortunate everything happened,” Embiid continued. “We didn’t get it done as far as winning in the playoffs. But look at the history of being on the court, what we did in the regular season, we were dominant.”
Sparks are sure to fly when the Nets visit Philadelphia to face the 76ers on the morning of Friday 11 March!
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Catch the following Regular Season games live this week…
- All times CAT
Saturday 5 March
- 02:45: Chicago Bulls v Milwaukee Bucks – LIVE on ESPN 2
Sunday 6 March
- 20:00: Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – LIVE on ESPN 2
- 22:30: Milwaukee Bucks v Phoenix Suns – LIVE on ESPN 2
