IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ben Simmons teases an NBA comeback

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Aug 9, 2026 11:04 AM ET

Ben Simmons is teasing an NBA comeback after taking last season off.

Simmons posted on Instagram Saturday and strongly hinted at interest in playing again. Accompanied by a photo of himself in the gym, the former No. 1 pick posted a reflective caption about how he would not change anything about his journey and was eager to see where it will lead next.

“Grateful for where I’ve been. Proud of where I stand. Ready for wherever this goes,” Simmons wrote.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ben Simmons (@bensimmons)

It is the latest in a series of posts from Simmons hinting at interest in returning to the NBA. Other posts have more specifically hinted at an eagerness to make an unlikely return to Philadelphia even though his career there came to a bitter end four years ago. There is a case that he could fit there, though the finances might be prohibitive.

Simmons was an outstanding defender, but never developed a jumper and was completely inept offensively by the time he fell out of favor in Philadelphia. A trade to Brooklyn failed to revive his career, thanks in part to recurring back problems. He last played in 2024-25, which he split between the Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

The good news for Simmons is that whether he returns or not, he seems to have found a successful secondary venture away from basketball.

More must-reads: