Ben Simmons

Benjamin David Simmons Bio

Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player who most recently played for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6-foot-10 point guard and power forward, Simmons was selected with the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 after sitting out his first professional season due to an injured right foot. Simmons earned three consecutive NBA All-Star selections from 2019 to 2021 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2020 and 2021. He was also the NBA steals leader in 2020. After his contract was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets in February 2025, Simmons signed with the Los Angeles Clippers to finish the season.

Early Life and Background

Benjamin David Simmons was born on 20 July 1996 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to Julie, a White Australian, and Dave Simmons, an American-born former professional basketball player. His father played college basketball for the Oklahoma City Stars in the United States before launching his professional career with the Melbourne Tigers in the National Basketball League in 1989. The family relocated to Newcastle when Simmons was 18 months old while his father played and coached there. Simmons has five siblings: Melissa, Emily, Liam, Sean, and Olivia.

Simmons began playing basketball at the age of seven with the Newcastle Hunters under-12 representative team before advancing to play for Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. He later played for the Knox Raiders in Melbourne after returning at age 10. As a child, Simmons also competed in rugby league and Australian rules football before ultimately choosing to focus exclusively on basketball during his teenage years. He attended Whitefriars College and led the Year-7 Division 1A basketball team to a premiership, earning MVP honors. In year 9 at age 15, Simmons represented Box Hill Senior Secondary College at the 2011 Australian Schools Championships.

In 2012, Simmons accepted a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport and made his first appearance in the United States at the renowned Pangos All-American Camp for basketball prospects. Despite being only 15 years old, he was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, where he helped the team win a silver medal.

Path to Professional Basketball

Simmons attended Box Hill Senior Secondary College in Melbourne before moving to the United States in January 2013 to attend Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. At Montverde, Simmons developed into one of the nation’s top high school prospects. In April 2013, he helped Montverde rally from a 16-point deficit to defeat St. Benedict’s 67-65 in the final of the High School National Tournament. He later played for the Bulleen Boomers in Australia’s Big V competition during the summer of 2013.

On 14 October 2013, Simmons committed to Louisiana State University (LSU), selecting LSU over offers from Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke. During his junior season at Montverde in 2013-14, he averaged 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 69 percent from the field. Montverde finished with a perfect 28-0 record, winning the High School National Tournament at Madison Square Garden with Simmons earning MVP honors.

In his senior year during the 2014-15 season, Simmons was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and the Gatorade National Player of the Year after leading Montverde to a 28-1 record. He averaged 28.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.6 steals per game while shooting 70.7 percent from the field. Considered a five-star recruit by ESPN.com, Simmons was ranked as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 1 player in the nation. He won MVP honors at the McDonald’s All-American Game and the High School National Tournament for the third consecutive year before competing in the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit.

Benjamin David Simmons Career

LSU Tigers (2015-2016)

Simmons began his college career with a five-game national tour in Australia with the LSU Tigers, where he averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game to lead the team in all major statistical categories. Upon returning to the United States, he was named the SEC’s Preseason Player of the Year and earned Associated Press preseason All-America team honors, becoming just the second freshman to receive the preseason player of the year award.

On 13 November 2015, Simmons made his college debut recording a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds in a win over McNeese State. On 2 December, he recorded 43 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks in a 119-108 win over North Florida. His 43 points were the most for a Tigers player since Shaquille O’Neal had 43 in 1991. After recording 14 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Kentucky on 5 January 2016, NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson dubbed Simmons the best all-round player since LeBron James. Simmons was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference and the league’s Freshman of the Year. LSU finished with an 18-13 record and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Simmons led the team in all major statistical categories except three-point shooting and free throw shooting, finishing with averages of 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He declared for the 2016 NBA draft on 21 March 2016, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

Philadelphia 76ers (2016-2022)

Despite questions from NBA media analysts about Simmons’ attitude and character in the week leading up to the 2016 NBA draft, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown defended Simmons and expressed confidence in his character. On 23 June 2016, Simmons was selected with the number one overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the 76ers, becoming the third Melbourne-born number one overall pick in 11 years, alongside Andrew Bogut (2005) and Kyrie Irving (2011).

On 3 July 2016, Simmons signed his rookie scale contract and joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League, where he was named to the All-Las Vegas Summer League First Team after averaging 10.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in six games. However, on 30 September 2016, Simmons rolled his right ankle during training camp. Tests revealed he had fractured the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot, and on 24 February 2017, he was ruled out for the entire 2016-17 NBA season after his foot had not fully healed.

Simmons made his NBA debut on 18 October 2017, recording 18 points and 10 rebounds in a season-opening loss to the Washington Wizards. In his first four games, he became the third rookie in NBA history after Oscar Robertson and Art Williams to record a triple-double in his first four games. He became the only player in NBA history to begin a season with at least 170 points, 100 rebounds, and 80 assists in his team’s first 10 games. On 15 March 2018, Simmons recorded his second consecutive triple-double and became the third rookie in NBA history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. He finished the regular season with 10 triple-doubles and helped the 76ers earn the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed with a 52-30 record. In his playoff debut, Simmons recorded 17 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds in a win over the Miami Heat. In Game 4 against the Heat, he recorded his first career playoff triple-double with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the first rookie since Magic Johnson in 1980 to have a playoff triple-double. At the season’s end, Simmons was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

On 15 July 2019, Simmons and the 76ers agreed to a $170 million, five-year contract extension. On 31 January 2019, he received his first NBA All-Star selection as an Eastern Conference reserve, becoming the first Australian to receive the honor. On 15 January 2019, with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Simmons became the second fastest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists, trailing only Oscar Robertson. He reached this milestone in 125 games, which is 9 games faster than Magic Johnson and 33 games faster than LeBron James.

Los Angeles Clippers Era (2025-Present)

After his contract was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets in February 2025, Simmons signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on 10 February 2025. On 13 February, he made his Clippers debut, recording 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block in a 120-116 overtime win over the Utah Jazz. Simmons averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in eighteen games played for the remainder of the season. In the playoffs, he played in five of the team’s seven games, averaging 8.4 minutes per game. Simmons became a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Playing Style and Strengths

Standing at 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters), Simmons possesses rare size for a point guard, allowing him to see over defenses and make plays from the top of the key. His court vision and passing ability for a player of his size have drawn comparisons to NBA legends. Simmons excels in transition, using his speed and ball-handling skills to push the pace and create opportunities for teammates. He is an effective rebounder for his position and a disruptive defender who uses his length and anticipation to generate steals. His ability to record triple-doubles and near-triple-doubles stems from his all-around court presence. However, his shooting development, particularly from beyond the three-point line and at the free-throw line, has been an ongoing area of focus throughout his career.

Notable Events and Milestones

Throughout his career, Simmons has accumulated several notable achievements and milestones. In 2020, he led the NBA in steals and was named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. His career-high of 42 points came on 15 February 2021 against the Utah Jazz in a 134-123 loss. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 after an injury-shortened first season. Simmons has recorded multiple triple-doubles throughout his career, including playoff triple-doubles that placed him among elite company with Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His NBA career has been marked by both exceptional playmaking ability and ongoing questions about his shooting development.

Benjamin David Simmons Career Statistics

Simmons has played professional basketball since 2016, with his career spanning three NBA franchises. His most productive seasons came with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he earned multiple All-Star selections and All-Defensive honors. His career has been interrupted by injuries, particularly back issues that affected his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets and limited his availability in recent seasons.

NBA Career Highlights

During his time with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2016 to 2022, Simmons established himself as one of the league’s most versatile players, averaging 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game over 275 regular-season games. He earned three consecutive NBA All-Star selections (2019-2021) and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2020. His defensive contributions earned him two NBA All-Defensive First Team selections (2020, 2021), and he led the league in steals in 2020 with 137 total steals for the season. Simmons recorded numerous triple-doubles during his tenure with the 76ers, showcasing his ability to impact the game across multiple statistical categories. His rookie season saw him post 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game despite missing his entire first professional year due to injury.

College and International Achievements

Prior to his NBA career, Simmons had an outstanding freshman season at LSU in 2015-16, averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He was named a consensus first-team All-American and the USBWA National Freshman of the Year. He earned first-team All-SEC honors and was named SEC Freshman of the Year. At the international level, Simmons represented Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, winning a silver medal. He also competed in the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, helping Australia win the gold medal.

Benjamin David Simmons Family

Family Background and Basketball Lineage

Benjamin David Simmons was born to Dave Simmons, an American-born former professional basketball player who played college basketball for the Oklahoma City Stars before a professional career in Australia with the Melbourne Tigers in 1989. Dave Simmons later became a naturalized Australian citizen and worked as a coach during his time in Australia. This basketball pedigree provided Simmons with early exposure to the sport and mentorship from his father throughout his development. Simmons has five siblings including Melissa, Emily, Liam, Sean, and Olivia, with the first four being from his mother’s previous marriage.

Personal Life

Simmons has maintained a relatively private personal life despite his public profile. His sister Emily, a former member of the Washington State University women’s rowing team, has worked for Klutch Sports since 2014. His godfather, David Patrick, served as an assistant coach at LSU during Simmons’ sole college season and is currently the head coach at Sacramento State. In 2018, Simmons hired his brother Liam as his shooting coach to work on improving his jump shot during the off-season. Over the 2021 Christmas holiday, Simmons reportedly became engaged to British television personality Maya Jama. Reports emerged in August 2022 that the couple had ended their engagement. Simmons is a supporter of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League and the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League.

2025 Season Performance

The 2024-25 NBA season marked a significant transition for Simmons following the buyout of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets in February 2025. After three seasons with the Nets that were marred by back injuries and limited availability, Simmons signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on 10 February 2025. His debut with the Clippers came on 13 February against the Utah Jazz, where he showed glimpses of his ability with 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block in an overtime victory.

Despite the promising debut, Simmons’ season statistics remained modest, as he averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game across eighteen regular-season games with the Clippers. The limited sample size reflected both his ongoing recovery from back issues and his adjustment to a new team environment. In the playoffs, Simmons appeared in five of the Clippers’ seven games, providing minutes off the bench. The Clippers’ season came to an end in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

As Simmons entered the 2025 off-season as a free agent, questions remained about his future in the NBA. His health history, particularly the recurring back issues, continued to be a factor in teams’ evaluations. His ability to contribute meaningfully over a full season would be crucial in securing another NBA contract. The 2025-26 season represents an opportunity for Simmons to rebuild his value and demonstrate that he can remain healthy while contributing to a team’s success.