Sixers

Ben Simmons Should Embrace this New Fishing Thing and Just Give Up on Basketball

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Dec 23rd, 2025 · 6:06 PM EST

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Of course:

With an #NBA return on hold, Ben Simmons is angling for success in pro fishing. While working on a healthy comeback to basketball, the three-time NBA All-Star is a team owner in Sport Fishing Championship. @andscape https://t.co/8LlitqWQta

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) December 23, 2025

“The unrestricted NBA free agent told Andscape that he has been engaging in two-a-day basketball, strength and rehabilitation workouts six days a week in the Los Angeles-area in hopes of getting fully healthy for a return to action. Simmons believes he is turning the corner physically and may be healthy enough to sign with a team around the NBA All-Star break if he continues to progress.“

And then what? You get 14 minutes a night from a 29-year-old who only shoots the basketball inside of six feet? Ben was waived by the Nets last year. The Nets! Then he went to the Clippers and played 16 minutes a night while grabbing a couple of rebounds and throwing a couple of assists. He barely even sniffed the floor in the playoffs.

That’s why rehabbing the injury has never been the big story. The issue is his brain, not his back. Ben was fully healthy five years ago and still wouldn’t shoot the ball. Didn’t space the floor and allowed defenders to sag and double his teammates. He dished it off to Matisse Thybulle instead of just dunking it en route to a one-seed Sixers team pitifully choking in the second round against the Hawks. This guy was an incredible athlete and versatile defender and was blessed with every tool in the toolbox, he just couldn’t get over the hump mentally, right? If Andre Drummond can learn how to shoot threes, then what’s stopping 6’10” Ben Simmons from shooting a fucking elbow jumper? He would have been the next LeBron if he could have figured it out, or wanted it badly enough.

The guy likes fishing and video games. He should focus on those things and enjoy himself. He’s made more than enough money and will always be a 3x NBA All-Star.