Oct 6, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) talks to guard Ben Simmons (10) in front of Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Ben Simmons Makes Honest Kevin Durant Statement

Originally posted on Fastbreak on SI | By Ben Stinar | Last updated Jan 24, 2025 6:53 PM ET

Ben Simmons is currently in his fourth season with the Brooklyn Nets organization.

At the beginning of his tenure with Brooklyn, Simmons was teammates with Kevin Durant (who was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2023).

In a recent interview with The Young Man and The Three, Simmons spoke highly of his former teammate.

Simmons: "KD expects guys to play hard. You might not hit every shot, you might not play your best game but he wants you to play hard. We saw it when we played them in Phoenix. When we beat them, he wanted his teammates to play hard and I could see it in him... He's a competitor, he wants to win. That's just how he is."

On November 27, the Nets beat the Suns (in Phoenix) by a score of 127-111.

Simmons finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and one steal while shooting 7/8 from the field in 27 minutes of playing time.

Via ESPN Australia & NZ on November 27: "Ben Simmons was HOOPING today!

The Nets take down the Suns for their third straight win and Ben flirts with a triple-double on elite efficiency

14 PTS | 9 REB | 8 AST | 87.5% FG"

Ben Simmons was HOOPING today!

The Nets take down the Suns for their third straight win and Ben flirts with a triple-double on elite efficiency

14 PTS | 9 REB | 8 AST | 87.5% FG pic.twitter.com/zg3UncMEuq
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) November 28, 2024

Durant finished the loss with 30 points, eight rebounds, two assists and three blocks while shooting 10/18 from the field and 3/6 from the three-point range in 33 minutes of playing time.

The Suns were able to get their revenge when they beat the Nets (in Brooklyn on January 22) by a score of 108-84.

However, Simmons did not play in the game.

Simmons and Durant went 20-10 in the 30 games they played together as teammates on the Nets.

This article first appeared on Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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