- In full:
- Benjamin David Simmons
Ben Simmons
News •
-
Who is Ben Simmons?
Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player, born on July 20, 1996, known for his versatility. He can play multiple positions and is praised for his defensive and playmaking skills.
Simmons played basketball from a young age and moved to the U.S. to attend Montverde Academy in Florida. He then attended Louisiana State University (LSU) on a basketball scholarship. After his freshman year, the Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the top overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
Simmons was named to the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In February 2022, the 76ers traded Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What country is Ben Simmons from?
Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player, born in Melbourne, Australia. He is known for his versatility, being capable of playing multiple positions. He is praised for both his defensive skills and playmaking ability on offense. In 2012, he was a member of the Australian national team that took runner-up honors at the FIBA U-17 World Championship. Simmons played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and was named to the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Which sport does Ben Simmons play?
Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player known for his versatility. He can play multiple positions and is praised for his defensive and offensive skills. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, he was named to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference All-Star team. Simmons played primarily at point guard and has also played power forward and center positions.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Which NBA team first drafted Ben Simmons?
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Ben Simmons as the top overall pick during the 2016 NBA draft. Simmons, an Australian basketball player, was drafted after playing basketball at Louisiana State University (LSU). A foot injury prevented Simmons from playing in the 2016â17 NBA season.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What position does Ben Simmons usually play on the basketball court?
Ben Simmons is known for his versatility, with the ability to play multiple positions. During the 2017-2018 season, he played primarily point guard. In the 2019-2020 season, Simmons transitioned to power forward and also played center. He is praised for his defensive skills and playmaking ability on offense.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some of Ben Simmons's major achievements in his basketball career?
Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player celebrated for his versatility as a playmaker and defender.
Key achievements:
- NBA All-Star: He was named to the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
- NBA Rookie of the Year: Simmons received the NBA's Rookie of the Year award at the conclusion of the 2017â18 season.
- NBA All-Defensive First Team: In 2020, Simmons's defensive skills earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive first team.
- Statistical Leader: He led the NBA in steals per game (2.1) and tied for first in loose balls recovered per game (1.7) in 2020.
- FIBA U-17 World Championship: In 2012, Simmons was a member of the Australian national team that finished as runner-up at the FIBA U-17 World Championship.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Ben Simmons (born July 20, 1996, Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian professional basketball player known for his versatility, being capable of playing multiple positions and praised for both his defensive skills and playmaking ability on offense. He was named to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2019, 2020, and 2021. However, injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential, and he spent the latter part of his career as a bench rotation player.
Early life
Simmons was born in Melbourne, Australia. His father, Dave Simmons, had moved from the United States to Australia to play (1989â2001) in the latter countryâs National Basketball League, and there he met and married Julie Tribe, who had four children from a previous relationship. The familyâwhich also included Ben and his sister Olivia Simmonsâsettled in Newcastle, New South Wales.
Ben Simmons began playing basketball at a young age and excelled at the sport. In 2012 he was a member of the Australian national team that took runner-up honors at the FIBA U-17 World Championship. He later moved to the United States to attend a private high school noted for its successful basketball program, Montverde (Florida) Academy. There he led the school to three consecutive national high-school championships (2013â15) and became one of the most sought-after college basketball recruits in the country.
After graduating from the academy in 2015, the 6-foot 10-inch (2.08-meter) Simmons attended Louisiana State University (LSU) on a basketball scholarship. During his freshman year he averaged a double-double, tallying 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. At the end of the season he opted to enter the 2016 NBA draft, during which the Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the top overall pick.
NBA career
Philadelphia 76ers
A foot injury kept Simmons out of the 2016â17 NBA season. However, he made an immediate impact the following season, helping lead Philadelphia to a 52â30 record (a 24-win improvement from the previous season) and a berth in the NBA playoffs. The 76ers advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals before being eliminated by the Boston Celtics. Playing primarily at the point-guard position, Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists that season, and he ranked third in the league in total assists (661) and 13th in field-goal percentage (.545). At the conclusion of the 2017â18 season Simmons received the NBAâs Rookie of the Year award.
In 2018â19 Simmons was instrumental in Philadelphiaâs return to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where the team lost to the Toronto Raptors. He was again third in the NBA in total assists, dishing out 610 on the season. He also improved in scoring and rebounding, posting averages of 16.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. In 2019â20 Simmons showcased his defensive skills. That season he led the NBA in steals per game (2.1) and tied for first in loose balls recovered per game (1.7). Those statistics helped earn him selection to the NBA All-Defensive first team. In addition, Simmons moved from point guard to power forward that season. He also later saw time at the center position.
In a game against the Utah Jazz in February 2021, with the 76ersâ starting center, Joel Embiid, sidelined by injury, Simmons took over Embiidâs role in the post and scored a career-high 42 points. That same month Simmons was named to the Eastern Conference NBA All-Star team for the third consecutive season. However, the 76ers lost in the second round of the playoffs, and some criticized Simmonsâs lackluster offensive play, with particular focus on his failure to develop an ability to take three-pointers. During the offseason he asked to be traded, and he did not play again for Philadelphia. In February 2022 the 76ers traded him to the Brooklyn Nets.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
Bench player and further injuries
Due to back issues, Simmons missed the remainder of the 2021â22 season. He returned the following season, making his debut with the Nets in a preseason game in October 2022. However, injuries continued to plague Simmons, and during each of his remaining seasons in Brooklyn he never played in more than 42 regular-season games (out of 82 total) and averaged less than 7 points per game. In February 2025 the Nets bought out the remainder of Simmonsâ contract, and he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons was a free agent in the offseason but did not sign with any team. After sitting out the entire 2025â26 NBA season, he agreed to a one-year contract to play for the Sacramento Kings in 2026â27. However, Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon shortly before the regular season began.