Former top draft pick Ben Simmons has stirred speculation about his NBA comeback. He shared a mysterious post on Instagram, featuring a shirtless photo of himself on a basketball court.
“I wouldn’t change the story,” Simmons posted. “The highs, the lows, the pain, the time, the lessons. I embrace all of it.”
He added emphatically, “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 with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season. In his 17 games, he averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, spending an average of 16.4 minutes on the court.
Simmons, an Australian basketball sensation, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Although he missed his initial season due to injury, he earned the Rookie of the Year title in 2018. His selection came at the expense of missing out on future All-Stars like Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, and Jamal Murray in the same draft.
Brown and Murray have both clinched championships with their respective teams. In 2023, Murray’s Denver Nuggets won the championship, while Brown was key to the Boston Celtics’ 2024 victory, earning the NBA Finals MVP award.
Curiously, the 76ers acquired Brown through a major trade with the Celtics this offseason, a decade after overlooking him in the draft.
Although Simmons has yet to win a championship, he has achieved significant accolades, including being a three-time NBA All-Star and a two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member. His career-high averages mostly came during his tenure with the 76ers. While he played for the Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets, he became a free agent following the 2024-25 Clippers season.
He did not take to the court in the following season, prompting speculation about his future in the league. His recent Instagram message hints at a possible return if a team values his potential contribution.
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