After being the No. 1 draft pick in 2016 and Rookie of the Year after his opening season, things got rocky for Ben Simmons.
Between his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and now the Los Angeles Clippers, Simmons has experienced a lot of ups and downs, with many people questioning his commitment to the game.
Simmons recently pushed back against criticisms of him and said that he lives and breathes basketball and loves it more than anything.
“Basketball is my life. I don’t want to play with my life. So that’s who I am. It’s in the family, it’s in the blood. This is what I do. It’s like walking. I love it. This is just what I do. Wake up, basketball’s my thing. And I love the game. I love the opportunities it’s given me in life and my family. So, I mean, even when I step away from the game one day, I’ll still be involved in some aspect, whether it’s coaching, whether it’s helping the youth and giving back. That’s just what I’m going to do,” Simmons said, per NBACentral.
Ben Simmons says basketball is life despite people questioning his love for the game
“Basketball is my life. I don't want to play with my life. So that's who I am. It's in the family, it's in the blood. This is what I do. It's like walking. I love it. This is just what I do.… pic.twitter.com/Bdrpi9whsZ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 17, 2025
During his rookie season, Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists.
His numbers peaked a year later and then started to go downhill.
Eventually, his relationship with the Sixers would sour and he would find his way to the Brooklyn Nets.
But instead of turning his career around in Brooklyn, he continued to struggle and left the team with an average of 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists.
He then moved to the Los Angeles Clippers and has looked a bit more comfortable playing for that team.
However, a lot of people wonder if he will ever play like the exciting young star he was less than ten years ago.
Many NBA fans have asked if Simmons likes to play basketball and if his heart is still in it.
He swears that it is and continually promises that he will deliver and help his team find success.
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