Ben Simmons Considering Retirement Despite Interested Teams

[RealGM Wiretap]

Free agent guard/forward Ben Simmons has drawn interest from NBA teams, including the New York Knicks. However, Simmons is deciding on more than just who to play for next season. The versatile veteran is considering if he wants to continue to play period.

Simmons is reportedly considering if he should retire vs continuing his NBA career for a 10th season. Simmons has been in the league for 10 years, but only played in eight of them due to injuries that cost him his rookie season in 2016-17 and a combination of an injury and holdout that cost him the 2021-22 season.

Last year, Simmons started with the Brooklyn Nets. He then joined the LA Clippers following a buyout. All total, over seven NBA seasons, the 29-year-old guard/forward has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game for his career.

Via Stefan Bondy/New York Post

[t-rexCity]

This is so sad but understandable. If you come across the slightest adversity and already made 200M and you're young then why even bother continuing. You just want to enjoy life and no reason to deal with all that b s. He got the bag so just enjoy life now

[Skipwhethers]

I can't recall such a high-profile player in any sport becoming so mentally broken in terms of his confidence. Sure, it would be human nature not to be as hungry anymore after making so much money over the past decade, but it's still really disappointing that his talent has been squandered in this way. I'm sure a lot of his peers find his attitude disrespectful.

[pushfloater]

First player bullied him out the NBA… this make me wonder. With all this new mental health awareness and medication, are people actually better off than they were years ago? We have more acceptance/treatment, but less grit/coping skills.

[lonea]

They are only interested in paying him vet min.

He probably wants to get paid max like ayton does.

[the_process]

CoD is calling you, Ben.

Now you can try to transition to pro gamer, your true passion.

Basketball just paid the bills. Forever. For multiple generations (assuming you have kids at some point).

[TheSeeker]

Dang, I was betting he'd win rookie of the year this season. Oh well.

[Pickled Prunes]

First player bullied him out the NBA… this make me wonder. With all this new mental health awareness and medication, are people actually better off than they were years ago? We have more acceptance/treatment, but less grit/coping skills.

He wasn't bullied out of the NBA. He is a talented player with no work ethic. People always criticized him for not shooting 3ps, but he didn't need that. If he would have just added a 5ft hook or a 10ft bank shot he would have been deadly. He added nothing.

Here is the clip that sent Simmons into a tailspin. This isn't bullying; this is honesty. It's something that I had questioned for a few years before the reporter asked the question.

Watch on YouTube

[Rek]

I don't perceive him as being mentally broken at all. He just leaned on that as a convenient excuse imo.

Ben doesn't have any real passion for the game and has already landed his bag. He's done.

Zero surprise here.

[Pickled Prunes]

I don't perceive him as being mentally broken at all. He just leaned on that as a convenient excuse imo.

Ben doesn't have any real passion for the game and has already landed his bag. He's done.

Zero surprise here.

I was surprised when he signed a minimum deal last year, evidentially hoping for one more bag. I will be more surprised if a team wastes a roster spot on him this season. It's pretty clear what he is and what he is not at this point.

The obvious "make good" team would be PHX. They have two PG's who have collectively started 26 NBA games and their teams have gone 6-20 in those games. If Simmons really wants another shot, his agent should get on the phone with PHX. They are desperate to be relevant and they do have talent.

[the_process]

Ben's agent just delisted him as a client. I'll bet this means he is retiring.

[Audi]

Crazy to me that Philadelphia drafted the two top picks in back to back drafts who couldn’t shoot 3s for completely opposing reasons brought on by their completely opposing work ethics.

[TimeisIllmatic]

Good, he's taking up a spot of a player who is willing to work harder.

[br7knicks]

who?