Ben Simmons drops bombshell on NBA retirement rumors amid 76ers reunion speculations

NBA free agent guard Ben Simmons has confirmed that he isn’t retiring from basketball. New York Post’s Stefan Bondy reported that Simmons is “considering” retirement. This came after he finished the 2024-25 season with the LA Clippers and became a free agent at the start of the offseason.

On Instagram, however, the former Philadelphia 76ers star had a one-word response to a fan who asked about his status in the league. The user with the handle @brandoncisneros48 asked Simmons in the comments section if he’s retired from the sport.

“No,” Simmons responded.

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There have also been rumors about Simmons' potential return to Philly. The 76ers management showed some interest in the 6-foot-9 star after the Brooklyn Nets bought out his contract, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. Fischer also revealed that the three-time All-Star has "repaired" his fractured relationship with Joel Embiid.

The two had a falling out after the 2021 playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, which led to Ben Simmons getting traded to the Nets.

The Ben Simmons-Knicks shut down by insiders

As Ben Simmons looks for a team to give him a chance, there was a report that the New York Knicks were interested in signing him. At that time, the Knicks were contemplating which player to sign to complete their roster. They were linked to Simmons, as well as Malcolm Brogdon, who was later signed by the front office.

However, the rumors about New York wanting to pursue the 2018 Rookie of the Year were shut down by NBA insider Ian Begley. The media member confirmed all of this on X, stating that the Knicks never made a formal offer to the free agent guard.

"Knicks have had dialogue with free agent Ben Simmons over the course of the offseason and certainly have had interest in him, but club has never made a formal offer to Simmons, per league sources. Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon among those on NYK radar for its lone roster spot," Begley posted.

Aside from Brogdon, the Knicks also signed Landry Shamet to a one-year deal. Ben Simmons, on the other hand, remains a free agent.

Last season, he appeared in 33 games for the Nets, averaging 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists. After that, he signed with the Clippers to finish the campaign and appeared in 18 games. During that stretch, he averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

It has been challenging for Simmons to find a new team because he is not the same player as before.

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About the author

Reign Amurao

Reign Amurao specializes in basketball at Sportskeeda, bringing 3 years of experience to his role and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication.

A fervent supporter of the Phoenix Suns, Reign was hooked to their electrifying "Seven-Seconds-Or-Less" offense, which epitomizes high-paced and high-intensity basketball. For Reign, Steve Nash is the ultimate floor general, and he believes Boris Diaw could've been the next Magic Johnson if he had a bit more discipline. 

From Reign's perspective, Anthony Edwards is a 90s player stuck in modern times, and Gregg Popovich is an ultimate winner with unparalleled success and leadership in the sport.

Reign's expertise lies in NBA history, particularly the significant moments and trends of the 2000s and 2010s. He prioritizes in-depth research using only credible sources to maintain accuracy in his articles, and avoids misleading topics.

Beyond basketball, Reign enjoys gaming with friends and watches comedy shows and films.

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