Ben Simmons facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the Australian basketball player. For other people with similar names, see Benjamin Simmons and Ben Simons.

Quick facts for kids
Ben Simmons

Simmons with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022

No. 10 – Brooklyn Nets

Point guard / power forward

Personal information

Born

20 July 1996 (age 28)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

High school

Box Hill Senior Secondary College
(Melbourne, Victoria)
Montverde Academy
(Montverde, Florida)

Listed height

6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)

Listed weight

240 lb (109 kg)

Career information

College

LSU (2015–2016)

NBA Draft

2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall

Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers

Pro career

2016–present

League

NBA

Career history

2016–2022

Philadelphia 76ers

2022–present

Brooklyn Nets

Career highlights and awards

3× NBA All-Star (2019–2021)
All-NBA Third Team (2020)
2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2020, 2021)
NBA Rookie of the Year (2018)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018)
NBA steals leader (2020)
Consensus first-team All-American (2016)
USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2016)
First-team All-SEC (2016)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2016)
National high school player of the year (2015)
McDonald's All-American (2015)
First-team Parade All-American (2015)

Medals

Men's basketball

Representing Australia
FIBA Oceania Championship
Gold	2013 Australia/New Zealand	Team Competition
FIBA World U17 Championship
Silver	2012 Lithuania	Team Competition

Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Brooklyn Nets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ben played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers. There, he was named a top college player and the best freshman.

The Philadelphia 76ers picked Ben as the very first player in the 2016 NBA draft. He missed his first year due to a foot injury. But in 2018, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. He has also been chosen three times for the NBA All-Star Game. Ben is a dual citizen of Australia and the United States. He has played for the Australian national team.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Ben Simmons was born in Melbourne, Australia. His father, Dave, was an American basketball player who became an Australian citizen. His mother, Julie, is Australian. Ben grew up with five siblings.

He started playing basketball at age seven in Newcastle. Later, he played for the Knox Raiders in Melbourne. As a young boy, he also enjoyed rugby and Australian rules football. In school, Ben was named MVP for helping his team win a basketball championship.

When he was 15, Ben decided to focus on basketball. He played for Box Hill Senior Secondary College. In 2012, he received a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport. That same year, he played in the United States at a camp for young basketball stars. He also represented Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

High School Career in the U.S.

Moving to Montverde Academy

In January 2013, Ben moved to the U.S. to play against other talented players. He attended Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. In April 2013, he helped Montverde win the High School National Tournament. They came back from being 16 points behind!

After playing in an international game, he returned to Melbourne. He joined the Bulleen Boomers basketball team. On 14 October 2013, Ben decided to play college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU). He chose LSU over other big schools like Kentucky and Duke.

Junior Year Success

Ben returned to Montverde Academy for his junior year (2013–14). He averaged 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Montverde had a perfect 28–0 record that season. They won the High School National Tournament again, beating Oak Hill Academy. Ben scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the final game, earning MVP honors. He was named America's top high school junior.

Senior Year Highlights

Simmons playing in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game

On 12 November 2014, Ben officially signed to play for LSU. In January 2015, he was chosen to start in the famous McDonald's All-American Game. He also won the Morgan Wootten Award, given to a top player who shows great character and leadership.

Ben was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year. He led his team to a 28–1 record. He averaged 28.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Simmons at a McDonald's All-American practice

After the McDonald's All-American Game, Ben led Montverde Academy to their third straight national title. He was named MVP again. Experts like ESPN.com called him the number one player in the nation for 2015.

College Career at LSU

Freshman Year Expectations

Ben started his college career with the LSU Tigers on a tour in Australia. He led the team in points and rebounds during the tour. Back in the U.S., Ben was named the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year. He was only the second freshman to get this award.

Simmons playing against Florida

On 13 November 2015, Ben made his college debut. He scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. On 2 December, he scored 43 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists in a win. This was the most points for an LSU player since Shaquille O'Neal in 1991. NBA legend Magic Johnson even called Ben the best all-around player since LeBron James.

End of College Season

LSU finished the regular season with an 18–13 record. They did not qualify for the NCAA tournament. Ben led the team in most stats, averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.

On 21 March 2016, Ben decided to leave college early to enter the 2016 NBA draft. He signed with Klutch Sports, a sports agency.

Professional Career

Philadelphia 76ers (2016–2022)

2016–17 Season: Injury Setback

On 23 June 2016, the Philadelphia 76ers chose Ben as the first overall pick in the NBA draft. He was the third Melbourne-born player to be picked first overall.

Ben signed his first NBA contract on 3 July 2016. He played well in the Summer League, showing great passing skills. However, on 30 September 2016, Ben fractured his right foot. This injury meant he missed the entire 2016–17 NBA season.

2017–18 Season: Rookie of the Year

Simmons with teammate Joel Embiid in 2018

Ben made his NBA debut on 18 October 2017. He scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds. In his fourth game, he recorded his first career triple-double (scoring double digits in three stats: points, rebounds, and assists). He became one of only three rookies to do this so early.

On 29 November, he scored 31 points and had a career-high 18 rebounds. On 22 February, he scored a career-high 32 points. By March, Ben joined Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as only the third rookie to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. He also set a team rookie record for assists.

Simmons dunking in 2018

The 76ers finished the season strong, winning 16 games in a row. They made it to the playoffs. In his playoff debut, Ben had 17 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds. He became the first rookie since Magic Johnson in 1980 to get a triple-double in the playoffs. At the end of the season, Ben was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

2018–19 Season: First All-Star Selection

In September 2018, Ben started working on his shooting skills. On 18 October 2018, he had a triple-double in the season opener. This was his 13th career triple-double. On 15 January, Ben became the second fastest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. Only Oscar Robertson did it faster.

On 31 January, Ben was chosen for his first All-Star team. He was the first Australian to receive this honor. In the playoffs, he had his second career postseason triple-double. He also scored a career-high 31 points in a playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets.

2019–20 Season: All-NBA and All-Defensive Honors

Simmons dunking the basketball against the Washington Wizards in 2019

On 23 October 2019, Ben scored 24 points in the season opener. On 7 December, he scored a career-high 34 points. This game also included his second career three-pointer. On 23 December, he had another triple-double with a career-high 17 assists.

In January 2020, Ben was selected for his second All-Star team. He scored 17 points in the All-Star game. In February, he suffered a lower back injury. He returned to play in August during the NBA Bubble. However, he missed the playoffs due to a knee injury. The 76ers were eliminated.

At the end of the season, Ben led the NBA in steals. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive First team.

2020–21 Season: Playoff Challenges

On 15 February 2021, Ben scored a career-high 42 points and had 12 assists. He finished the season averaging 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.

During the playoffs, Ben had trouble with his free throws. Many people noticed his lack of confidence in shooting. The 76ers lost in the semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks.

2021–22 Season: Issues with the 76ers

After the playoff loss, there were disagreements between Ben and the 76ers. He wanted to be traded to another team. Ben missed training camp and preseason games. He explained that his absence was due to mental health issues.

Brooklyn Nets (2022–present)

Simmons with the Brooklyn Nets against Detroit Pistons

On 10 February 2022, Ben was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He joined the team along with Andre Drummond and Seth Curry. In March, he was diagnosed with a back injury. This kept him from playing for the rest of the season and playoffs. On 5 May, he had back surgery.

Ben made his Nets debut on 19 October 2022. He scored four points and had five rebounds and five assists. On 17 November, he had a season-high 13 rebounds. Three days later, he scored a season-high 22 points. On 17 January 2023, Ben recorded his first triple-double as a Net.

In February 2023, Ben had a procedure for ongoing left knee soreness. In March, the Nets announced he had a nerve issue in his back. This meant he would miss the rest of the season. During the 2022–23 season, Ben had career lows in points, rebounds, and assists.

After missing the first 38 games of the 2023–24 NBA season, Ben returned on 29 January 2024. He played in only 15 games that season. On 7 March, the Nets announced he would miss the rest of the season due to his back. On 15 March, he had back surgery.

National Team Career

Junior and Senior Teams

Ben represented Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship. He helped the team win a silver medal. He made his senior debut for Australia in the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship. He was part of the gold medal-winning Australian team.

Since 2013, Ben has often said he would play for Australia in big tournaments like the Olympics. However, he has usually withdrawn from the team before the competitions. In 2021, he withdrew from the 2020 Summer Olympics team. He said he wanted to focus on improving his shooting skills. In 2023, he ruled himself out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to his back injury.

Career Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2017–18	Philadelphia	81	81	33.7	.545	.000	.560	8.1	8.2	1.7	.9	15.8
2018–19	Philadelphia	79	79	34.2	.563	.000	.600	8.8	7.7	1.4	.8	16.9
2019–20	Philadelphia	57	57	35.4	.580	.286	.621	7.8	8.0	2.1*	.6	16.4
2020–21	Philadelphia	58	58	32.4	.557	.300	.613	7.2	6.9	1.6	.6	14.3
2022–23	Brooklyn	42	33	26.3	.566	.000	.439	6.3	6.1	1.3	.6	6.9
2023–24	Brooklyn	15	12	23.9	.581	—	.400	7.9	5.7	.8	.6	6.1
Career		332	320	32.5	.560	.139	.589	7.8	7.4	1.6	.7	14.4
All-Star		2	0	23.0	.923	—	.500	6.0	6.0	1.5	.5	13.5

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2018	Philadelphia	10	10	36.9	.488	.000	.707	9.4	7.7	1.7	.8	16.3
2019	Philadelphia	12	12	35.1	.621	—	.575	7.1	6.0	1.3	1.0	13.9
2021	Philadelphia	12	12	33.5	.621	.000	.342	7.9	8.8	1.3	.8	11.9
Career		34	34	35.1	.571	.000	.520	8.0	7.5	1.4	.9	13.9

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2015–16	LSU	33	32	34.9	.560	.333	.670	11.8	4.8	2.0	.8	19.2

Personal Life

In 2018, Ben's brother Liam resigned from his coaching job to help Ben improve his shooting. Ben's sister Emily works for Klutch Sports. She is married to former NFL player Michael Bush. Ben's godfather, David Patrick, was an assistant coach at LSU when Ben played there.

In November 2016, Ben was featured in a Showtime documentary film called One & Done. This film looked at his time as a college player who only played one year before going to the NBA. Ben signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2016. He supports the Essendon Football Club (Australian rules football) and the Newcastle Knights (rugby league).

In 2020, Ben became engaged to British TV personality Maya Jama. However, in August 2022, the couple ended their engagement.