Kevin Durant Gets Real On Ben Simmons’ Struggles: “He’s A Veteran, He Knows We Got A Long Season Ahead Of Us.”

Kevin Durant was honest about Ben Simmons' struggles during the Brooklyn Nets' season opening loss against the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Simmons had a nightmare performance in his debut for the Brooklyn Nets against the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2022-23 season opener for his team. He fouled out after having contributed just 4 points, a very embarrassing look for the Nets, who went on to lose by over 20 points. 

The entire Nets’ defense was capitulated by the scoring prowess of CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson. Simmons was supposed to be the best defender on the Nets but fouled out while trying to contain Zion. Fans have already blamed Ben for the loss, while Kyrie Irving has offered his support. Kevin Durant wants to keep it moving, as it is just the first game in an 82-game season. 

“Just keep encouraging him and keep being good teammates.”

“He a veteran, he know we got a long season ahead of us. We got 81 more of these and there’s gonna be plenty of other games. We’re all going to have great games, it’s the nature of the job. It’s about bouncing back and coming to work tomorrow and figuring it out.”

Simmons has to make a push toward improving his production on both sides of the court. While rust is believable, everyone needs to hope he can shake this off quickly, or else the Nets will struggle to defend anyone on the court. 


The Importance Of Simmons’ To The Nets’ Defense

The Brooklyn Nets have a serious lack of defensive personnel on their team right now. While Ben finished second in DPOY rankings the last time he played a full season, he did have Joel Embiid protecting the rim while he focused on the perimeter. The Nets don’t have a solid rim protector, even with Nicholas Claxton.

Ben will have to set the tone for the entire team and commit to being defense-first, given the lack of options on this team. He did try to execute that today, but fouling out against Zion made it impossible for him. The Nets will pray that Simmons can work through his rustiness as soon as possible. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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