Former No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons is practicing with “zero restrictions” and eyeing an NBA comeback, ESPN Andscape reported late Sunday.
Simmons, who turned 30 last month, reportedly is participating in a player-led private minicamp with the Australian men’s basketball team in Melbourne.
The three-time All-Star point guard sat out the 2025-26 NBA season while recuperating from back and other injuries that have plagued his career. He last played with the Los Angeles Clippers for 18 games in March and April in 2025.
According to the report, “several NBA teams” have expressed interest and Simmons is open to signing a minimum contract. One source said that he has a non-guaranteed offer on the table from a Western Conference team.
Meanwhile Simmons is looking to compete for Team Australia at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He had been working out primarily in Miami, where he lives, before paying his own way to Melbourne for this week’s camp, per the report.
Drafted No. 1 by Philadelphia in 2016 out of LSU, Simmons made his delayed NBA debut a year later and won 2017-18 Rookie of the Year honors. He was a three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive pick before injuries derailed his career. He has not played more than 58 games in a season since 2018-19.
Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 383 career games (344 starts) with the 76ers (2017-21), Brooklyn Nets (2022-25) and Clippers.
–Field Level Media
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