The NBA season is fast approaching, and one name still on the market has turned heads about what the future holds: 29-year-old Ben Simmons.
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, Simmons sat out his rookie year due to injury before bursting onto the scene as a potential franchise cornerstone alongside Joel Embiid.
After making three consecutive All-Star appearances from 2018–2021, his career began to spiral after suffering an apparent back injury. Simmons missed the entire 2022 season, clashed with the Sixers over his status, and ultimately requested a trade, citing both mental health struggles and a lack of organizational support as the reason.
Jan 14, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons (10) stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.
© Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons has yet to regain his All-Star form. He hasn’t appeared in more than 51 games in any of the last six seasons, and after a short stint with the Los Angeles Clippers last year, he now remains unsigned with fewer than 50 days until the new season tips off.
On Wednesday, reports surfaced that Simmons is considering retirement — a shocking development for a player once expected to be one of the NBA’s brightest stars.
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post: “Ben Simmons has generated interest from the Knicks and another team but is also questioning whether he even wants to continue playing in the NBA next season, The Post has learned.”
Ben Simmons’ NBA journey has been anything but ordinary. While his numbers have dropped off in recent years, Simmons remains an intriguing player thanks to his unique two-way skill set — a 6-foot-10 forward with the playmaking abilities of a point guard.
His biggest shortcomings, outside of his ongoing struggles to stay consistently healthy, have long been tied to his lack of shooting.
Even so, his early career resume is impressive. In four seasons with the 76ers, Simmons averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2017, earned three All-Star selections, made the All-NBA team in 2019, and was twice named to the All-Defensive team.