1:45 pm: Agent Bernie Lee has informed the National Basketball Players Association that he is no longer representing Simmons as the two-time All-Defensive member weighs his next steps, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link).
8:06 am: Veteran free agent Ben Simmons remains unsigned, and it’s possible he’ll decide to end his career instead of joining a team before the start of training camp. A source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Post that Simmons is unsure “if he wants to continue” playing in the NBA.
The Knicks are among the teams that have expressed interest in the former No. 1 pick, but they can only offer a veteran’s minimum contract that would be worth a little more than $3MM. That might not be enough to lure Simmons, who is only 29 but has dealt with numerous injuries in recent years. Bondy points out that Simmons has made more than $200MM in his career and may not want to continue pushing his body after undergoing multiple back surgeries.
Another source tells Bondy that along with Simmons, New York is still considering Landry Shamet and at least one other free agent to fill a roster opening. The front office has also contacted representatives for Malik Beasley, Bondy adds, but his status remains uncertain due to his involvement in a federal gambling probe. Beasley may get a more lucrative offer if teams are confident that he’ll be able to play.
Simmons split last season with the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 51 games. It was the most games he has appeared in since 2020/21, which was his last All-Star season.
In addition to their financial limitations, the Knicks may not be able to offer consistent playing time to Simmons, Bondy notes. Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson have already been added in free agency this summer, joining the core of a team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
Bondy states that another team still has interest in signing Simmons, but he doesn’t specify who it is. The Kings and Warriors have been mentioned as possibilities, and they both have roster spots available.
Why would anyone sign this guy at this point? His heart is clearly not into it at all. Even if he doesn’t decide to retire nobody in the league should even offer the guy a contract.
If his heart is no longer in it, then why don’t he just retired?
He is planning on doing that now. He was getting paid max money through last year so he wasn’t going to retire and forfeit tens of millions of $$$. Now he can only make the minimum, so to him it isn’t worth it.
I agree Miken31. Even at the minimum I wouldn’t do it. This guy will just skate through the season for the paycheck.
But it sounds like the minimum is not worth it for him considering where his body is at right now. It would probably take 5 to 8 mil guaranteed for him to go through the rigors of a full season with his two weeks off here, 10 days off there, built-in.
His play on the floor is decent, but the things he was good at slip with age. Defending the smaller guys, running the break, he’s not as fast or as quick as he was.
As you get older, you rely more on your jumpshot so Ben Simmons is basically done. He’s been done lol.
I would argue that, having already made a fortune and being set for life, money might not be the motivating factor. Maybe he really does want to play basketball? Back injuries are scary. There is a constant thought in your mind that one wrong move and you could be paralyzed. Maybe he’s weighing repairing his reputation and doing what he loves versus riding out into the sunset a shell of his former self, with a reputation he will never be able to amend?
If that were the only issue it would be one thing, but wasting a roster spot on a guy who is likely to miss significant time, has back issues, and will probably not show up in the playoffs isn’t a smart move for a contender IMO, even if the skillset is still attractive.
I’m sure there were multiple teams out there at the beginning of FA that offered him a min, and I’m sure he was holding out for more. It’s a shame he never really liked basketball, he’s such a unique talent. It’s hard to go from making almost $40 mil a year to $3 mil a year when he can make more from sitting at home and having someone invest his money for him.
He can do both! He’ll probably hang out until mid-season than pick a competitive team that had a few injuries and needs a defensive specialist. The Nuggets or someone of that ilk.
He Retired,years ago!
Besides Ben getting his pride broken by Hawks in playoffs. He never had a serious injury. He showed up at camp. Then had emotional issues time away from team. More like he couldn’t take the heat in Philly. Then came back and had back issues. That turned out to be real. He has had real surgery on his back, a couple of times. I believe. Except his back injuries seem to have happened away from basketball. And nobody has ever investigated that. I have read enough to know his injury was real. I just don’t know if he is capable of playing at NBA level. And lets face it. Does he even want to. I know if it was me. I wouldn’t want to go out this way. Plenty of players have played productive years with bad backs. I guess Ben just doesn’t have the cojones. ….. too bad.
We also have to remember that this new age NBA players all come from good families. The hood kids are far and few between so that extra edge that you grew up with grinding to make it and growing up in the ghetto just isn’t there. Not saying that you should want to but there’s a lot of NBA kids and the kids are taken earlier on around 6 and 7th grade and give nice life’s. These guys are getting paid from 6th and 7th grade so it’s not like they just been making money since 19. So most of these new kids are going to tap out early
Yeah I get that. And agree this new age with all the attention. Even if you grow up poor. You are privileged cause you got game. Growing up playing ball in states. Still makes you a tougher player mentally. Just look at Cooper, and most. Definitely more soft guys around now. Thinking they are stars just cause they are lottery picks.
He had multiple surgeries on nerve impingement in his back. That’s a serious injury that’s severely chronic and probably still dealing with. He’ll never have the same explosiveness, the same lateral quickness and he already wasn’t a shooter and more passive offensively.
I too think he shiuld have worked on his game to get that jump shot down, but I deal with neeve impingement daily and the pain is unreal sometimes and never ceases. His back will force him to retire, not pride
Yeah it took me awhile to believe it lol. It is a true injury. Like I said though. I don’t think it was basketball related. He showed up one day like that.
I watch how he plays and moves now. I wonder why he can’t just be a D guy and rebounder. He is a smart player. He should see that. It’s just not in him. Rodman had NO offense yet is a HOFer.
Larry Bird would have been the GOAT no question if he didn’t hurt his back. He played years with a bad back.
Ben Simmons didn’t just suddenly show up that way. In a 2020 game against the Bucks, he was slammed on his back so hard that he began vomiting from the pain. He ended up missing the final eight games before the season was halted due to COVID. He rehabbing during the time off. He most likely would’ve missed the rest of the season.
I hope anyone who says back injuries are fake suffers their own back injuries to understand how real they are.
Banthisaccount:
I don’t know anyone who says back injuries are fake. I think the issue with Simmons is that he spent time with mental health issues and seemingly not being motivated to play. I understand mental health issues are very real, but I also understand where people can use that as a crutch if they’re not motivated to do certain things. I don’t know what’s real with him. But I certainly don’t question a back injury.
His lack of development once reaching the NBA tells you all you need to know about his level of motivation.
He’s made, according to this website, over 200 mil. I’d say he can retire comfortably.
Not only did he make tons of money he can write a book and sell it for millions. Inside the mind of Ben Simmons…wow
This is dumb. You’re 29 Ben and already played 7 seasons. At least give half-assed effort and play 3 more seasons and get your max pension.
Dude lacks rage to win. 9 years and no jumpshot.
How much difference would that pension be? Does he need to play 3 full seasons for that?
If you play at least 10 years in the NBA, at age 62 you’ll get $215K per year for the rest of your life. Plus free healthcare for the rest of your life for you and your entire family.
He is not losing that lol. He will hang around for that.
He has no heart. Hence, he’s not worth the minimum.
Might as well. Seems like he lost his love for the game. It’s too bad though, the guy had a unique talent, but the mental part of the game did him in
Being how the vast majority of NBA fans online hates him and Kawhi, I don’t blame him.
Let’s be honest, Ben Simmons the NBA player retired a few seasons ago
All Simmons needed to do was care a little and the guy could have been an all-timer. What a titanic waste of talent.
Warriors ? Small Ball center?
Ben Simmons for the love of everything holy HIRE A DAMN SHOOTING COACH.
It cannot be that hard, really brother. Its not that hard. Little old ladies can shoot, 8 year olds can shoot, hire a coach and get over yourself.
Then you will be hired.
Or go back to Aussie and play in the NBL as a celeb.
Retirement. insane. Your freaking 6’9″ and 29 years old. Grow up.
Because he doesn’t want to. Hard to improve if you don’t care to.
He was shooting FTs much better in 24-25. I don’t think he’ll get a jumper, though.
Ben Simmons really just scammed the whole NBA and left. I am not convinced he ever intended to be a basketball player.
I’m pretty sure the 10th year is meaningful as far as retirement benefits. That means he’s very likely to sign somewhere for the vet min, and this “considering retirement” press release is trying to squeeze a team out of a few more $.
I knew nobody would pursue him after that dreadful contract of a guy who won’t improve.
Sixers considered him retired when he got scared of Trae Young blocking his dunk.
“Been” Simmons has “been” retired since 2020… just “been” collecting his direct deposit since then
I can’t think of a retirement in sports that people would celebrate more than this one. Let him go away forever with all of the $ he legally robbed.
Seems like basketball stopped being fun for Ben a long time ago. Or, at least, the job of basketball. If that’s the case, then he should retire. He’s young, he has financial security, hopefully still has his health… no reason not to pursue other interests, carve out a new life for himself, and do something that brings him happiness.
Coulda seen this coming. He’s never wanted to do anything more than collect checks. No motivation to be great at a game he’s naturally gifted at.
if he was smart (and I don’t think he is lol) he would take a 1 year minimum deal from a team like the Heat, Spurs, or Rockets… teams with solid organizations and / or coaches that can showcase him for a year and show he gives a BLEEP about his career….. instead I think his agent firing him as a client shows he only wants more $$$ and doesn’t give a damn at all.
NBA players are going to be paying for this POS for the next few CBAs.
I’ve never been a fan of Ben Simmons. I’ve never liked his attitude.
As for the idea that Simmons lacked passion for the game, I don’t agree. I think he wanted to play, but he was stubborn and determined to do things his own way. He wasn’t the type to chase glory by jacking up shots, he made his impact by hustling on defense and moving the ball.
Dude was under the basket and wouldn’t shoot. He don’t wanna play or win.