Former No. 1 NBA draft pick Ben Simmons may be eyeing a return to professional basketball. He shared a mysterious Instagram post, featuring a shirtless photo of himself displaying his physique on the basketball court.
“I wouldn’t change the story,” Simmons wrote. “The highs, the lows, the pain, the time, the lessons. I embrace all of it.”
In his message, Simmons reflected on his journey, saying, “Every chapter built something in me that I couldn’t have built any other way. Grateful for where I’ve been. Proud of where I stand. Ready for wherever this goes.”
Simmons last played for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season. In 17 games, he averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per game.
Originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons missed his initial season due to injury, yet he secured the Rookie of the Year award in 2018. The 76ers had opted for Simmons over future talents like Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, and Jamal Murray in that draft.
Both Brown and Murray have since won championships with their respective teams. Murray’s victory came in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets, while Brown earned his with the Boston Celtics in 2024, where he also became the NBA Finals MVP.
Interestingly, the 76ers acquired Brown in a major trade this offseason, a decade after initially bypassing him. Simmons, although without a championship title, has been a three-time NBA All-Star and a two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team honoree.
After his stint with the Clippers, Simmons became a free agent. He did not participate in the following season. However, his recent social media activity hints at a possible return if a team believes in his potential value to their roster.