Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons' careers have followed different arcs, but they intersected in the 2022-23 season. They each spent time on the Brooklyn Nets that year, although Durant got traded to the Phoenix Suns in February 2023.
Their shared time in Brooklyn symbolized two worlds colliding. Durant fulfilled his potential as an all-time great talent, while Simmons is one of the biggest "what if?" stories in recent history.
The latter player was the 2018 Rookie of the Year and an All-Star selection from 2019-21, but his production dropped off after that. He didn't play in 2021-22 and was reduced to a role player from then on.
Durant gave his thoughts about Simmons on Saturday via social media.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25).
Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25).
© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
"Great ball player and movement," he responded to a clip a fan posted of Simmons playing with him and Kyrie Irving.
Simmons averaged 6.9 points on 56.6 percent shooting with 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists over 26.3 minutes that season after averaging 14.3 points on 55.7 percent shooting with 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists over 32.4 minutes for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020-21.
The Nets traded Simmons to the Los Angeles Clippers this past season, and he's now an unrestricted free agent.
Meanwhile, the Suns dealt Durant to the Houston Rockets on Sunday for Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, four second-round picks, a 2025 first-rounder that turned into Duke center Khaman Maluach, and a 2025 second-rounder that turned into Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack. The Rockets traded the latter player to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday morning.