Ben Simmons, the three-time All-Star who sat out the entire 2025-26 season, is ready to lace up his sneakers again. At 29, the former No. 1 overall pick is training for an NBA return after taking a year off to reset both his body and mind.
Simmons, who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25, appearing in just 18 games off the bench, told Men's Health that he's been working to "find myself again" and is now focused on a comeback. "I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my a** on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed," he said. "I don't have a plan on where."
That open-ended approach has Simmons considering some intriguing options. He mentioned a possible return to the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that drafted him and where he spent four seasons before a messy trade to the Brooklyn Nets. "Maybe I'll go back to Philly," Simmons said. He also expressed interest in the Miami Heat, praising their culture and coach. "I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture. That's in my DNA."
Simmons burst onto the scene as Rookie of the Year in 2017-18, averaging 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Despite never making a three-pointer, he was a versatile force who impacted every aspect of the game. "When I'm out there, I make everybody better," he said. "I play defense. I get offensive rebounds."
But his career took a sharp turn after the infamous 2021 Game 7 playoff loss to the Atlanta Hawks, when he passed up an open dunk. That moment, combined with a back injury and mental health struggles, led to a contract dispute and his eventual departure from Philadelphia. Simmons admitted he wasn't mentally ready to play the following season.
Now, after stepping away, he feels a renewed sense of purpose. "The joy that I play with comes from being healthy," he explained. "How do you love something when you're f***** up? How do you love something that you do when you're incapable of doing it?"
Simmons is pushing back against critics who have questioned his passion for the game. "I think this is just what I'm choosing to do, like, no one's forcing me," he said. "It's never been about, do I love playing basketball? That's never a question. That's in my DNA. I think sometimes you get over all the bull**** that comes with it, though."
Simmons' journey mirrors other notable comebacks in sports, like Kai Trump's golf comeback after wrist surgery, and the buzz around Serena Williams sparking singles comeback buzz at Wimbledon. But for Simmons, it's about rediscovering his own joy on the court, free from the pressure that once weighed him down.
As he prepares to write the next chapter, Simmons says he feels "no pressure" to succeed. "I was second-guessing, overthinking," he recalled of his time in Philadelphia. Now, he's simply focused on getting healthy and finding a team that believes in him. Whether that's in Philly, Miami, or elsewhere, Simmons is ready to prove he still belongs in the NBA.
