Ben Simmons, a three-time NBA All-Star, has expressed his intention to return to professional basketball after a year away from the sport. Simmons sat out the 2025-26 season to focus on recovery from multiple back surgeries and to address the mental toll of public scrutiny.
In an interview with Men's Health, Simmons stated his commitment to regaining physical strength and returning to the court. "I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my ass on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed," he said. He noted that he felt the need to step away to "find myself again" after allowing external criticism to significantly impact him.
Simmons, who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-2025 season before being waived by the Brooklyn Nets in February 2025, detailed the physical pain he experienced. He reported being in so much pain from nerve issues in his back that he struggled with basic mobility. The physical challenges were compounded by persistent online criticism regarding his shooting performance, a struggle that followed him from Philadelphia to Brooklyn.
"I was like, You know what? F–k it," Simmons recalled of his decision to opt out of the 2025-26 season. "If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But this is what feels right….I needed to get away, and have some space, and just find myself again." He described reaching a point where he "had enough" of the intense public scrutiny and recognized the need for a different environment to protect his well-being.
Simmons, the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, shared that he feels better physically and mentally than he has in a long time. "You kind of fall into it just being a normal thing, and then you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, like this is how I really should be feeling.’ So it’s cool to feel that now," he said.
He indicated that he does not feel pressure regarding a potential NBA comeback. "People are gonna say the same thing every single time. It’s like, ‘All right, well, if that’s what you think, then that’s what you think,'" Simmons stated. He added, "When I’m out there, I make everybody better. I play defense. I get offensive rebounds." He clarified that his love for the game remains, but he sought to move past the difficulties associated with it. "I think sometimes you get over all the bulls–t that comes with it, though."
Simmons last played in 51 games for the Nets and Clippers in the 2024-25 season. He was reportedly a target for the New York Knicks last offseason, but he opted not to play at all during the 2025-26 season, a decision that led to his agent dropping him after he rejected a contract offer from the Knicks.
In December, Simmons acquired a majority ownership stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a professional fishing team.