hoopie
Last month

Will Ben Simmons retire from the NBA?

From The Age

Australian basketball star Ben Simmons is reportedly weighing up quitting the NBA despite interest from two franchises.
The New York Post reported that the former All-Star (pictured) is considering his options, which include ending a career during which he has pocketed more than $200 million in earnings.
Simmons, 29, split time between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season, averaging five points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds through 51 games.
However, the No.1 overall pick of the 2016 national draft still remains a free agent without a contract just a month before NBA training camps open.
While the New York Knicks
have reportedly tabled a deal of $5 million per season, with the Boston Celtics also linked to the two-time NBA All-Defensive first team representative, no deal has been struck.
Simmons is managed by Bernie Lee of Thread Sports Management.
If Simmons did leave the NBA, he would be of interest in the Australian league should he want to continue playing locally. While NBL competition sources are keeping tabs on the situation, most expect he will eventually land with an NBA team. The NBL did not wish to comment yesterday.

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Zodiac  
Last month

"If you don't sign me I'll quit!'

Not sure about that Knicks offer, earlier in the off-season he supposedly was only getting vet min offers.

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Isaac  
Last month

As Ben Simmons decides his next career steps, I'm told Bernie Lee has notified @TheNBPA that he has formally removed himself from the union's ledger as Simmons' agent.


There's a suggestion though that he's not far off securing the NBA max pension (10 seasons minimum).

Just go play in Boston where there are minimal expectations, and see if things get back on track.

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Cram  
Last month

As a veteran minimum or even up to that biannual exception (5m) he's worth a shot for a team needing some depth.

I think the Celtics would be a good situation for him. He'll get a chance to play in the regular season as they need some bigger bodies, but then would be likely not needed much in the playoffs once rotations get shorter. They've got shooters everywhere so his tendency to pass over shoot ever wouldn't look so bad.

I think as he goes on though, he needs to adapt to being more of a 4-5, at least defensively, to carve out a role.

He's never going to be a star again, and likely never even a starter again, but if he can focus on being a good role player, he still has lots of years ahead of him in the league.

Saying that, I'm not sure he wants it enough.

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Hooping  
Last month

feels like he did already a few years back

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ME (he/kangaroo)  
Last month

As far as draft pick busts go, it doesnt get much more glorious than Ben Simmons - the mental midget with all the ability in the world but none of the brains or heart. He's stolen 200 something million from the NBA in the biggest heist in human history. The decent thing to do would be to give it all back and then go live in obscurity somewhere. But no doubt he'll be playing the victim at crown casino or doing something irritating for attention.

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Zodiac  
Last month

Anthony Bennett and Kwame Brown agree with ME.

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Dunkman  
Last month

Anyone with their eyes open agrees with ME.

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curtley  
Last month

Anyone who suggests he'd consider coming to the NBL (apart from sporting journalists in large mainstream outlets who have no idea about basketball) should be banned from this forum immediately due to higher than normal levels of stupidity.

Reply #969358 | Report this post


Cram  
Last month

Ben Simmons is a giant disappointment on so many levels, but he's far from the biggest bust ever.

His list of accolades show he was a successful player - until he wasnt.

Rookie of the Year
All Rookie team
3 x NBA All Star
2 x All Defensive team
1 x All NBA

I don't disagree with the slagging he gets, but be real.

Reply #969362 | Report this post


Ballin Fan  
Last month

Ah yes
My annual reminder to google

"Ben Simmons 2016 draft report scout Jon Givony"

Reply #969363 | Report this post


ME (he/kangaroo)  
Last month

Ok, he didnt go completely without success but he's been a non-entity in the basketball world since the moment he passed up that open lay up. And before that all the signs of mental dysfunction were already there anyway, with his playing the victim, jerking the Boomers around, and seeming offended that anyone suggest he should add a jump shot. Ben Simmons had all the tools to be the next Lebron James. But 9 years after being drafted his best hope is deep bench of the Celtics, or the Shanghai Sharks. He's been privileged his entire life, and his family in his junior career shot down any critics. He never learned to understand the word "no" and held a grudge against the Boomers for not gifting him a jersey before he could meaningfully contribute. He plays the victim when given basic, normal treatmenet at a Casino and spends his whole Melbourne visit slagging the country off. He's done nothing in the NBA for years and yet has got paid as though he's still a star. And to make it even more offensive, he has the nerve to sit there and wonder if he should retire and walk away with millions upon millions without contributing much of anything to the game other than taking.

Ben... just go.

Reply #969365 | Report this post


rjd  
Last month

It depends how you define "bust". Someone like Anthony Bennet was picked high by the Cavs, but not many thought that highly of him, so the bust should be attributed more to the Cavs poor scouting than being on him. Simmons, on the other hand, demonstrated his athleticism, skills and potential over a number of years, reaching near-superstar status, until he decided basketball wasn't his thing. At that point, he was hardly even a worthy role player. So he probably gets the "Waste of Talent" award, which should be his biggest indictment.

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Diop Kick  
Last month

Ben just doesn't have the mental build up to be successful in the NBA. When he hurt his back it seems he didn't feel he could still compete without his full athleticism.

The early protection was likely hiding this weakness as he was developing and it was easily missed.

Some things can't be taught, you either have the right build or you don't. Mentally, Ben absolutely didn't.

Reply #969485 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Last month

The latest:

"The Knicks, league sources said, indeed offered a one-year contract to Ben Simmons that the former All-Star passed on. New York is limited to minimum contract offers as training camps draw near and Simmons entered the summer hopeful of securing a contract above the minimum after he split last season between the Nets and Clippers."

https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/ben-simmons-reportedly-rejected-contract-offer-from-new-york-knicks

Reply #969486 | Report this post


curtley  
Last month

Sacked by his own agent.

If Philly offers him vets minimum it might be the best possible outcome for everyone (not including his bank balance).

Reply #969509 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Last month

Knicks now denying they even offered Simmons a vet min contract lol

Reply #969514 | Report this post


Master Chief  
Last month

Simmons just does not want to be a professional basketballer. And that's fine. He doesn't have to be if he truly does not want to be.

Reply #969516 | Report this post




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