The 2025-26 NBA season begins in just a few weeks, yet Ben Simmons has not decided if he will return. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, the former No. 1 pick is “questioning” whether he wants to continue his NBA career.
Simmons is a free agent. The New York Knicks and one other team have shown interest, but no agreement has been made.
Last season, Simmons split time between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. He played in 51 games, averaging 5.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.7 steals in 22 minutes per game, while shooting 52 percent from the field. His playoff role was limited. In the Clippers’ seven-game first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets, Simmons appeared in five games, averaging 8.4 minutes.
In July, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings also had interest, but none moved forward with talks.
- Ben Simmons is unsure if he will play in the 2025-26 NBA season despite interest from the Knicks and one other team.
- He has played just 383 of 719 possible games since 2016, with multiple back surgeries and long absences.
- Sportsbooks rank the Knicks as a top Eastern Conference contender, with championship odds between +800 and +950 and playoff odds near certain.
From Rising Star to Ongoing Injuries
Simmons entered the league with high expectations. Drafted No. 1 overall in 2016 by the Philadelphia 76ers, he quickly impressed. He won Rookie of the Year, earned three straight All-Star selections from 2018 to 2021, and was named to the First Team All-Defense twice.
His career turned in 2021 after a falling out with the 76ers. He missed the entire 2021-22 season because of a holdout and a back injury that required surgery.
The 76ers traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in September 2022. His time there was brief and uneven. Simmons played only 57 games across two years, and another back procedure ended his 2023-24 season early. The Nets bought him out in early 2024, after which he joined the Clippers. He played 18 regular-season games for them before the playoffs.
Since 2016, Simmons has appeared in 383 of 719 possible regular-season games — just over 53 percent. His repeated absences and lack of a three-point shot have made teams cautious.
Knicks Weigh Risk and Reward
The Knicks have one roster spot open as training camp approaches on September 24. Simmons, who already has ties to New York from his Nets days, could be a fit defensively. He can guard multiple positions and create plays for teammates.
But offense is a concern. New head coach Mike Brown, hired on July 7, 2025, after the Knicks let go of Tom Thibodeau on June 3, has stressed the need for spacing. “We need four shooters on the floor at almost all times,” Brown said when describing his vision. Simmons’ refusal to shoot from distance could limit lineups.
The financial picture and the betting market also help frame Simmons’ challenge. Sportsbooks have made the Knicks one of the top favorites in the East after a busy summer. FanDuel and BetMGM list New York between +800 and +950 to win the championship, while Eastern Conference futures hover around +270 to +320, second only to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their regular-season win total has been set in the 52.5 to 53.5 range depending on the book, with playoff qualification priced near certainty at -5000. Analysts at ESPN and BetMGM suggest the Knicks could surpass those totals given their coaching change and offseason depth moves, though some caution the team is still a tier below Oklahoma City in title projections.
Injuries elsewhere in the East have tilted the market in New York’s favor: Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton are all expected to miss significant time, leaving a clearer path to contention. Yet despite speculation about Simmons joining the Knicks, oddsmakers have not moved their lines in reaction. His potential arrival is seen more as a depth signing than a game-changing swing.
Financially, Simmons is believed to be seeking more than a minimum contract, a tough ask for teams with championship hopes like the Knicks. Rebuilding squads, meanwhile, have little incentive to take on a veteran with such a history of injuries.
The Clippers, Simmons’ most recent team, closed the door on a reunion this offseason by re-signing veteran guard Chris Paul for one final year and adding former Bucks center Brook Lopez. With roster spots closing fast, Simmons’ options are dwindling.
What Lies Ahead
Ben Simmons has been training this offseason to stay ready, but his standing in the league has not changed. Coaches and executives still value his ability to defend multiple positions and create plays for teammates, yet his long history of back injuries, limited scoring, and unwillingness to shoot from three-point range continue to overshadow those strengths.
If the Knicks give him their last roster spot, it will likely be for a reserve role. If they pass, his NBA options may run out.
At 29 years old, the former Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star faces a choice: accept a smaller role on a contender like New York or walk away from the league as the new season begins.
