Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets. He was selected with the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Standing at 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, Simmons plays the point guard position for the Nets. He is considered one of the most versatile players in the league given his rare combination of size, court vision, playmaking ability, and defensive skills.
Over his first three NBA seasons with the 76ers, Simmons continued to stuff stat sheets by averaging 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. His versatile contributions helped lead Philadelphia to three straight playoff appearances.
However, tensions between Simmons and the 76ers came to a head after their playoff loss to Atlanta in 2021, when Simmons' offensive limitations were exposed. He demanded a trade heading into the 2021-2022 season but did not suit up for Philadelphia amid the ongoing drama.
In February 2022, Simmons was finally traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal involving James Harden. Simmons joined stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn with hopes of making a championship run.
However, Simmons continued to be plagued by injury issues in his first season with the Nets. A herniated disc in his back sidelined him for the majority of the season, limiting Simmons to just 42 games in 2022-2023. When healthy, he posted solid averages of 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists as Brooklyn's starting point guard.
Heading into the 2023-2024 campaign, the 27-year-old Simmons will look to put his back troubles behind him and regain the All-Star form he flashed earlier in his career.
Ben Simmons College
Ben Simmons attended Louisiana State University (LSU) for college, where he played for just one season. The Australian prodigy joined the LSU Tigers as a five-star recruit in the nation after finishing high school in Florida.
Simmons made an immediate impact for the Tigers as a versatile 6-foot-10 freshman. He recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds in his college debut against McNeese State. Simmons then exploded for 43 points against North Florida, breaking LSU's freshman scoring record set by Shaquille O'Neal.
Simmons was named USBWA National Freshman of the Year and earned consensus first-team All-American honors in his lone college season. He was also voted SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches.
Although his NCAA career was short, Simmons shined bright for the Tigers in 2015-2016. His versatile impact solidified his status as the top prospect in college basketball. In 33 games for LSU, Simmons averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
FAQs
A. Born on 20 July 1996, Ben Simmons is 27 years old as of November 2023.
A. Ben Simmons is averaging 14.6 points per game so far in his career.
A. Ben Simmons has the tattoo of the Australian flag on his shoulder.
A. Ben Simmons has mentioned LeBron James as one of his favorite NBA players.
