KEY POINTS

  • Kevin Durant has opted to select Rudy Gobert over James Harden for his bench in the NBA All-Star Game
  • The Inside the NBA crew hilariously throws jabs at Durant about his reasoning over the pick
  • Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons

The NBA trade deadline has passed and it was one of the most eventful deadlines in a long while with the superstar swap between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets headlining it all.

Kevin Durant could not help but throw himself into the aftermath.

During the selection of the NBA All-Star Game reserves between Durant and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James on Inside the NBA, the final two picks came between Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Durant’s former co-star James Harden.

Durant selected Gobert over Harden and gave an explanation that very clearly did not convince the Inside the NBA crew of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.

“I’m [going to] need some size, for sure, and some defense on the interior especially with LeBron James and Giannis [Antetokounmpo] playing great basketball this year. I’ll need somebody to offset that,” Durant justified.

Obviously, everyone in attendance did not believe Durant and the crew continued to rib the 11-time All-Star on his selection, and James could not contain his laughter in light of the situation unfolding as Harden ended up being on his roster.

Durant eventually cracked a smile after James asked whether Harden was healthy enough to play in the All-Star Game, and Barkley responded with his usual brand of snark, saying that the former NBA MVP is ready to go after being traded to the Sixers.

Rumors of Harden wanting out of the Nets materialized deep into the final hours of the trade deadline, with superstar outcast Ben Simmons being shipped off in the deal.

The deal is as follows:

  • Brooklyn Nets receive: G/F Ben Simmons, G Seth Curry, C Andre Drummond, 2022 unprotected first-round pick, 2027 protected first-round pick
  • Philadelphia 76ers receive: G James Harden, F/C Paul Millsap

It was a blockbuster deal that practically opened up the floodwaters of trades being announced as many were completed in the moments that followed.

The trade ended the Durant-Harden-Kyrie Irving partnership in Brooklyn, having only played 16 games together.

With the NBA All-Star Game set to happen next Sunday, February 20, fans will be intrigued to see how Harden and Durant will interact on the court following the fallout of the blockbuster trade.

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