Ben Simmons Reportedly Weighing Retirement If Left Without NBA Suitors: A Candid Look at a Career on the Brink
By [Your Name], August 12, 2025
In a shocking yet perhaps unsurprising development, sources close to three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons have reportedly revealed that the 29-year-old guard-forward is seriously considering retirement if no team signs him ahead of the 2025–26 season.
The report, first hinted at by insiders during the offseason rumor cycle, comes after a string of injury setbacks, diminishing production, and a league-wide hesitancy to invest in what once seemed like a generational talent. Simmons, who hasn’t played a full season since 2019, is now at a critical crossroads in his basketball journey — and possibly nearing the end of it.
Once a Rising Star
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, Ben Simmons entered the NBA with lofty expectations. He was heralded as the next LeBron-like point-forward — a 6’10” playmaker with elite defensive instincts, court vision, and transition brilliance.
His early years backed up the hype. Simmons won Rookie of the Year in 2018, made three consecutive All-Star teams, and earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors in 2020 and 2021. But his Achilles heel — a reluctance to shoot, particularly from outside the paint — eventually became a fatal flaw in the eyes of fans, media, and even teammates.
The 2021 Playoff Collapse and Fallout
Everything changed during the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Simmons’ infamous pass under the basket in Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks — a moment symbolic of his shaken confidence — triggered a media firestorm. His subsequent fallout with the 76ers organization, which included a holdout and strained relations with teammates like Joel Embiid, marked a turning point in his career.
A trade to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 was supposed to provide a fresh start. Instead, injuries, inconsistent play, and a seeming lack of offensive aggression turned Simmons into a role player on a team searching for identity. By 2024, he was playing limited minutes, averaging career lows in points, assists, and minutes per game. The Nets declined to re-sign him this past offseason.
No Offers — And No Clear Path Forward
As of August 2025, Simmons remains unsigned, and league interest is reportedly minimal. Several teams have passed on even offering a training camp invite, citing uncertainty about his back health and lack of scoring progression.
Now, after nearly a decade in the NBA, Simmons is said to be contemplating walking away altogether.
> “Ben is in a reflective place,” said a source close to the former All-Star. “He still loves the game, but the reality is, if no opportunity comes his way — meaningful opportunity — he may see this as the right time to step away.”
The statement echoes sentiments Simmons himself hinted at in a recent private podcast appearance, where he spoke about mental health struggles, physical setbacks, and the emotional toll of being in the spotlight.
A Legacy of Unfulfilled Potential?
If Simmons retires, his career will likely be remembered as one of the most enigmatic in recent memory — a blend of elite defensive brilliance and offensive passivity. In an era that increasingly demanded versatility and shooting from every position, Simmons’ refusal — or inability — to evolve his offensive game became his undoing.
Still, it’s impossible to overlook his impact in other areas. He remains one of the most gifted defenders and transition facilitators the game has seen in the last 10 years. But will that be enough to write a redemptive final chapter?
One Last Shot?
While retirement is reportedly on the table, insiders stress that Simmons hasn’t made a final decision. If a franchise sees value in a low-risk, veteran defensive anchor and is willing to offer a stable role, there’s a belief that Simmons could still contribute — particularly in a system that minimizes shooting expectations and maximizes his court vision.
Until then, the basketball world watches and waits — not just for a contract offer, but for an answer to one of the NBA’s lingering “what ifs.”
Tags: Ben Simmons, NBA Retirement, Free Agency 2025, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Mental Health in Sports, NBA Comebacks
