Kyrie Irving has spoken out about one of the most discussed trades in recent NBA history—the Brooklyn Nets’ decision to send James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons during the 2021-2022 season. The trade, which reshaped the Nets’ championship ambitions, was met with widespread scrutiny. Now, Irving has added his personal take, calling it “shocking” and “not a fair trade.”
The star guard, now with the Dallas Mavericks, addressed the topic during a recent live stream on Twitch. Speaking candidly to his followers, Irving reflected on how the deal came together and how it affected team dynamics.
“It shocked a lot of people. It shocked me,” Irving said. “I was talking to James one day and I’m like—‘Bro, we’re about to go win these championships’—and a day later he asked for a trade. I understood completely, though.”
Irving’s comments shed light on the internal atmosphere of the Nets’ locker room at the time. Harden, who had joined the team in January 2021 to form a highly anticipated trio with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, played only one full season with Brooklyn. By February 2022, citing frustrations with team chemistry, injuries, and uncertainty around Irving’s availability due to COVID-19 protocols, Harden requested a trade.
Harden was sent to Philadelphia in a blockbuster deal that brought Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two future first-round picks to Brooklyn. However, Simmons never played a game for the Nets during the remainder of that season due to back issues and mental health concerns. This led many to view the trade as a lopsided one, particularly given Harden’s continued productivity with the 76ers.
“I didn’t feel like that was a fair trade,” Irving said. “He went to our division. He went to Philly. It didn’t sit right with me.”
The Nets had assembled one of the most talented trios in NBA history, but the core was short-lived. Between injuries, vaccine mandates, and off-court issues, Irving, Harden, and Durant shared the court in only 16 games together. The trio posted an impressive 13–3 record in those appearances, but that success was fleeting.
In his remarks, Irving appeared to sympathize with Harden’s decision to leave, stating, “I understood completely.” Harden had reportedly grown frustrated with Irving’s part-time status and the team’s overall instability. At the time of the trade, the Nets were dealing with a midseason slump, and Durant was out with a knee injury.
Irving, meanwhile, was ineligible to play home games due to New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a policy that severely limited his participation in the 2021–2022 season. His absence had placed a strain on team chemistry, and while Harden never publicly criticized Irving, reports suggested he was unhappy with the lack of commitment from teammates.
Simmons, acquired as the centerpiece of the trade, was expected to bring elite defense and playmaking to the Nets. However, he remained sidelined after the trade and underwent back surgery in May 2022. His absence and uncertain future raised further questions about the team’s decision to trade Harden for a player who was not ready to return to action.
Irving’s latest remarks echo broader criticisms of the Nets’ front office, which has come under fire for how the superteam experiment was handled. The dream of a Brooklyn championship never materialized, and by 2023, all three stars—Harden, Irving, and Durant—had departed.
Irving left the Nets in February 2023 after requesting a trade. He was eventually sent to the Dallas Mavericks, where he has since formed a new partnership with Luka Dončić. Durant was traded to the Phoenix Suns just days later, effectively ending the superteam era in Brooklyn.
Now, more than three years after the Harden-Simmons trade, Irving’s reflections provide insight into the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped one of the most turbulent chapters in modern NBA history. While he acknowledged that he “understood completely” why Harden wanted out, Irving clearly feels the Nets did not receive fair value in return—especially from a competitive standpoint.
“Things didn’t play out the way we wanted,” he added. “But that’s the business. That’s the NBA.”
As the dust settles on the failed Brooklyn experiment, players and fans continue to evaluate what went wrong—and what might have been. For Irving, the Harden trade stands out not just as a turning point for the franchise, but as a personal moment of disillusionment with how quickly team plans can change.
The Nets, who have since entered a rebuilding phase, are still grappling with the fallout of those high-stakes decisions. Simmons remains on the roster but has struggled with health and consistency. Meanwhile, Harden has played for two additional teams—the Sixers and the Los Angeles Clippers—and Irving is eyeing another deep playoff run with Dallas.
