Ben Simmons Wins Championship Outside of the NBA

Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Ben Simmons Wins Championship Outside of the NBA

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated May 19, 2026 2:54 PM ET

Ben Simmons has not appeared in an NBA game since splitting the 2024-25 season between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Across 51 games last season, Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 22 minutes per game while shooting 52% from the field.

There was interest in Simmons during free agency last summer, including a reported veteran minimum offer from the New York Knicks, which he declined, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Retirement speculation followed, though Simmons pushed back publicly when responding to a fan on Instagram.

While his basketball future remains uncertain, Simmons has expanded his involvement outside the NBA.

Former Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10)© Erik Williams-Imagn Images

In December 2025, Andscape’s Marc Spears reported that Simmons became the controlling operator of the South Florida Sails, a franchise in the Sport Fishing Championship, a professional offshore saltwater fishing league founded in 2021. According to league commissioner Mark Neifeld, Simmons acquired a 50% ownership stake in the organization in a deal valued in the high seven figures.

On Monday, Simmons announced the biggest achievement yet in that venture. The South Florida Sails captured the 2026 Walker’s Cay Open in The Bahamas, the second stop of the Sport Fishing Championship season. Simmons shared the news on Instagram following the victory.

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The Sport Fishing Championship features 16 professional teams competing across North America through a points-based format that spans six stops and 12 tournaments before concluding with the Zane Grey Playoffs. The league has attracted several high-profile investors, including Scottie Scheffler, Austin Dillon, Raheem Mostert, Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, and Brian Kelley.

As for basketball, Simmons has reportedly expressed interest in representing Australia at the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. However, there is still no clear indication regarding a possible NBA return or whether another franchise will offer him an opportunity.

Simmons was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and is a 3-time All-Star.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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