Ben Simmons considering shock career decision

Ben Simmons became an unrestricted free agent earlier this summer. He spent the second half of last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, but failed to impress during his 18 regular-season outings and five playoff games.

As such, Simmons has struggled to find a new team ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. He has been linked with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks in recent weeks, but no contract offer has been made.

With the new NBA season just over a month away, Simmons could still land on a new team in time for training camp. Yet, the realization that he may start the season without a team must now be dawning on him.

Simmons may consider retirement 

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Simmons could decide to call time on his NBA career.

"Ben Simmons has generated interest from the Knicks and another team but is also questioning whether he even wants to continue playing in the NBA next season, The Post has learned,” Bondy reported.

Simmons has struggled to make an impact over the last three seasons. He has become a peripheral player, incapable of being the force of nature he was during the early parts of his career. Furthermore, Simmons' inability to stretch the floor or score outside of four feet has marginalized the role he's been afforded in each of his last two stops. 

If he doesn't believe he can rediscover the level of play that made us believe he was a future superstar, then stepping away from the limelight could be a wise choice.

Simmons' back issues are seldom discussed 

Simmons' career began to free-fall after he missed his entire 2021-22 season with a back issue. During that time, he also dealt with some mental health struggles, which often received the most media attention.

However, it was those back issues that seemingly limited his explosiveness upon his return to the NBA. Simmons often avoids contact when getting to the rim, and doesn't possess the same burst of speed or change of direction he once weaponized to make him a fearsome scorer.

While his back problems appear to be a thing of the past, they've certainly limited his overall ability in recent years. He's gone from being a future MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidate to someone struggling to make a coach's primary rotation. 

Simmons is unlikely ever to be the player he once was. Even now, when he should be in his prime, he's a shadow of the player who took the league by storm in 2017-18. 

So, if his back is still problematic, and his future prospects are to be near the end of an NBA bench, no one could blame him if he chooses to step away and pursue new avenues.