Simmons Plots NBA Comeback
After Injury Hiatus, Ben Simmons Targets NBA Comeback with Philadelphia or Miami
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Key Points
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Simmons was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 for his standout rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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He sat out the entire 2021-22 season before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that brought James Harden to Brooklyn.
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In December, Simmons purchased a majority stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, signaling an interest in off-court ventures beyond basketball.
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He has described a pinched nerve in his back in 2020 that caused pain down his lower back and legs, contributing to his on-court decline.
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Simmons signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2025 after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets and appeared in 18 games that season.
Ben Simmons is planning an NBA comeback this summer, naming the Miami Heat as his top destination after more than a year away from professional play. The 29-year-old former three-time All-Star made the announcement through a feature in Men's Health, saying, "I want to show teams I can still contribute to a winning culture."
Simmons last played in the NBA during the 2024-25 season, appearing in just 18 games for the Los Angeles Clippers after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets. He now enters the 2026 off-season as a free agent with no guaranteed salary on the books, according to Yahoo Sports.
Simmons Eyes Heat Culture and Spoelstra's System
Simmons has singled out Miami Head Coach Erik Spoelstra as a major draw. He told Men's Health he has "immense respect" for Spoelstra's tactical discipline and the Heat's culture. Miami has a track record of reviving high-ceiling players with injury histories, including Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladipo.
Analysts say the Heat's system is one of the few in the league that can work around a player who refuses to shoot from three. Simmons shot 0% from three-point range in his 2018 Rookie of the Year season and never improved that figure. A "point-center" role in Miami could hide that weakness, according to The Athletic.
A Career Derailed by a Pinched Nerve and Trade Drama
Simmons' fall from elite status traces back to February 2020, when he suffered a pinched nerve in his back. The injury sent pain down his lower back and legs. Medical analysts note that nerve damage in the lower body is especially harmful for a 6'10" player who relies on lateral quickness for defense.
He sat out the entire 2021-22 season before the 76ers traded him to Brooklyn in the deal that brought James Harden to Philadelphia. He never found his footing with the Nets and was eventually waived, then signed by the Clippers in February 2025. His agent has told TNT Sports that Simmons is "physically pain-free for the first time in years."
76ers Return Remains a Polarizing Wild Card
Simmons has also left the door open to rejoining the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that drafted him first overall in 2016. Audacy reported on his comments about a potential Sixers return, made alongside his Miami remarks. Philadelphia fans remain divided — some miss his defensive peak, others still resent his 2021-22 holdout.
76ers President Daryl Morey has not issued a public comment on the possibility. Local reporting from The Philadelphia Inquirer describes any reunion as "polarizing." A return would require Simmons to integrate into a roster built around different stars, demanding a total reset of his on-court role.
Analysts See Low-Risk Flyer, Not Star-Level Signing
NBA analyst Bobby Marks was blunt: "At 29, the 'potential' tag is gone. Any team signing Ben is looking for a specialist, not a superstar. He has to accept a minimum salary and a bench role." His next contract is expected to be a veteran's minimum or a non-guaranteed camp invite, per Sportsnaut.
Some scouts still see value. Bleacher Report called a healthy Simmons a "low-risk, high-reward" option in a league hungry for versatile wing defenders. Off the court, Simmons purchased a majority stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club in December 2025, a move that signals he is building wealth well beyond his next NBA paycheck.
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