Knicks Sign Veteran Guard Following Troubling Ben Simmons Reports

The signing comes after some troubling reports about Simmons over the last few weeks like his apparent disinterest in playing in New York and consideration of retirement.

The three-time All-Star was recently dropped by his agent, and it’s been said it was done because of his refusal to sign a deal with the Knicks.

His representation, Bernie Lee, had positive discussions and negotiations with New York, but reportedly dropped Simmons after he made it clear he wasn’t interested in signing.

This development came just days after it was reported that the Australian star is debating if he even wants to continue playing basketball.

The Downfall of Simmons

Whether it’s back issues or a lack of motivation, Simmons clearly has not been the same player since he passed up a dunk on Trae Young in a playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks.

The infamously harsh Philadelphia fans, along with his teammates, criticized Simmons for the decision and it feels like he’s been running from those demons ever since.

After being a double digit scorer in each of his first four years, Simmons has averaged less than seven points per game in every season since the Hawks series.

He was once touted as the next face of the league, but he’s looked like a broken player for years now and will likely never reach that potential.

The Knicks viewed him as a low-risk, high reward signing due to his immense talent, but cheap cost. Now, they realize that Simmons doesn’t want to be there and may not even want to be in the league at all, so they’ve decided to pivot to someone they know and trust.

Simmons is one of the most talented players in the NBA, but his injuries and debilitating mental blocks completely derailed his career.