Former Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25).
Former Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25).
Ben Simmons’ future in the NBA has been the subject of ongoing speculation as the he remains without a team deep into the 2025-26 season. Once regarded as one of the game’s premier defenders and playmakers, Simmons struggled to regain his All-Star form after leaving the Philadelphia 76ers. His most recent time in the league included stops with the Brooklyn Nets and later the Los Angeles Clippers, but injuries and diminished production hindered his ability to secure a long-term opportunity.
During the 2024-25 season, Simmons appeared in 51 regular-season games, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. Those figures marked a significant drop from his peak years as his role shifted toward limited offensive involvement and playmaking when healthy.
Former Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons at Barclays Center.
Former Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons at Barclays Center.
With NBA retirement rumors circulating, Simmons has clarified that he is not stepping away from competition entirely. However, his next competitive chapter will not be on the hardwood after a new report from Andscape’s Marc Spears.
Per Spears, the 29-year-old free agent is now the controlling operator of the South Florida Sails, a team in the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), a professional offshore saltwater fishing league founded in 2021.
The league features 16 pro angling clubs across the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. SFC tournaments span coastal states from Texas to Massachusetts, with anglers competing for overall season titles.
“The way I see it, it’s like the new F1 for fishing — the new LIV Golf for fishing,” Simmons told Andscape.
The former Sixer also emphasized the technical challenges of the sport, noting that professional anglers often spend days at sea on million-dollar vessels and that the experience offers “fun and unforgettable experiences on the field.”
Simmons’ new career path comes after seven seasons in the NBA. Selected No. 1 overall by the 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft, he is a former NBA Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star and NBA All-Defensive First Team selection.