Ben Simmons facts for kids
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Simmons with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022
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| Free agent | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Point guard / power forward | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 20 July 1996 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| High school |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2022 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2025 | Brooklyn Nets | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Los Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player. He last played for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers. He was recognized as a top college player and the best freshman.
Simmons was chosen as the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. After missing his first year due to an injury, he became the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018. He was also selected three times for the NBA All-Star Game. After some time away from the 76ers, Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. His contract with the Nets ended in February 2025, and he then signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Simmons went to high school in Australia before moving to the United States to attend Montverde Academy. His father, Dave, played professional basketball in Australia. Ben Simmons is a citizen of both Australia and the United States. He has also played for the Australian national team.
Contents
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. His father played professional basketball for the Melbourne Tigers in Australia.
Ben started playing basketball at age seven in Newcastle. He later played for teams in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. When he was 10, his family moved back to Melbourne, and he joined the Knox Raiders junior basketball team. As a young boy, he also enjoyed playing rugby and Australian rules football.
In school, Ben was named MVP when his team won a basketball championship in Year 7. As a teenager, he chose to focus on basketball. At 15, he played for Box Hill Senior Secondary College and later received a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport. He also played for Australia in the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship when he was just 15.
High School Basketball Journey
Moving to the U.S.
In January 2013, Ben moved to the United States to play against other talented young athletes. He attended Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. In April 2013, he helped Montverde win the High School National Tournament. After playing in an international game, he returned to Melbourne for a short time.
In October 2013, Ben decided to play college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU). He chose LSU over other big basketball schools like Kentucky and Kansas.
Junior Year Success
Ben returned to Montverde Academy for his junior year (2013–14). He played very well, averaging 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Montverde had a perfect season, winning all 28 of their games. They won the High School National Tournament again, and Ben was named the MVP. After this great season, he was considered the best high school junior in America.
Senior Year Achievements
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In November 2014, Ben officially signed to play college basketball for LSU. He was chosen to start in the McDonald's All-American Game, a special game for top high school players. He also won several awards, including the Naismith Prep Player of the Year. He led his team to a 28–1 record and another spot in the High School National Tournament.
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Ben helped Montverde Academy win their third straight national title in April 2015. He was again named MVP of the tournament. He was considered the top power forward and the best player in the nation by ESPN.
College Basketball at LSU
Ben started his college career with the LSU Tigers on a tour in Australia. He led the team in scoring and rebounding during these games. When he returned to the U.S., he was named the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year. This was a big honor for a freshman.
In his first college game in November 2015, Ben had 11 points and 13 rebounds. In December, he scored 43 points, which was the most for an LSU player since Shaquille O'Neal in 1991. NBA legend Magic Johnson even called him the best all-around player since LeBron James.
LSU finished the regular season with 18 wins and 13 losses. Ben led the team in most statistics, averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. After the season, he was named first-team All-SEC and the league's Freshman of the Year. LSU did not make it to the NCAA tournament that year.
In March 2016, Ben decided to leave college early to enter the 2016 NBA draft. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to prepare for the draft.
Professional Basketball Career
Philadelphia 76ers (2016–2022)
Drafted by the 76ers
On 23 June 2016, Ben Simmons was chosen as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He was the third player from Melbourne to be picked first overall. He signed his first contract with the 76ers in July 2016 and played in the NBA Summer League. He showed great passing skills there.
However, in September 2016, Ben injured his right foot during practice. He fractured a bone and had to miss the entire 2016–17 NBA season.
Rookie of the Year Season
Ben made his NBA debut on 18 October 2017. In his third game, he joined Oscar Robertson as one of the only players to have at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in their first three NBA games. In his fourth game, he recorded his first career triple-double (reaching double digits in three stats). He was only the third rookie to do this so quickly.
Ben continued to impress, setting records for rookies. He had 31 points and 18 rebounds in a game against the Washington Wizards. He also scored a career-high 32 points against the Chicago Bulls. By March 2018, he became the third rookie in NBA history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists, joining Robertson and Magic Johnson. He finished the season with 12 triple-doubles.
The 76ers finished the regular season with 16 straight wins, earning a high spot in the playoffs. Ben was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month multiple times. In his first playoff game, he had 17 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds. He also recorded a triple-double in the playoffs, becoming the first rookie since Magic Johnson in 1980 to do so. At the end of the season, Ben was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.
First All-Star Selection
In September 2018, Ben worked on improving his shooting. In the 76ers' first game of the 2018–19 NBA season, he had 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. He quickly recorded his 13th career triple-double. By January 2019, he became the second fastest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists, only behind Oscar Robertson.
In January 2019, Ben was selected for his first All-Star team, becoming the first Australian to receive this honor. He continued to have strong performances, including a game with 20 points, 22 rebounds, and 9 assists. In the playoffs, he had his second career postseason triple-double and scored a playoff career-high 31 points against the Brooklyn Nets.
All-NBA and All-Defensive Honors
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In July 2019, Ben signed a five-year contract extension with the 76ers. In the 2019–20 NBA season opener, he scored 24 points. He recorded his first triple-double of the season in November. In December, he scored a career-high 34 points and made his second career three-pointer. He also set a career-high with 17 assists in another triple-double game.
In January 2020, Ben was selected for his second All-Star appearance. He played for Team LeBron in the All-Star game. In February, he suffered a lower back injury that kept him out until the NBA season restarted in the "NBA Bubble" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He missed the playoffs due to a knee injury, and the 76ers were eliminated.
At the end of the season, Ben was the NBA steals leader. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team for his excellent defense.
Playoff Challenges
In February 2021, Ben scored a career-high 42 points and had 12 assists in a game. He finished the season averaging 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.
During the playoffs, Ben had trouble making free throws. He became the worst free-throw shooter in postseason history for players with many attempts. After a tough loss in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Ben faced criticism for not shooting enough, especially free throws.
Time Away from the 76ers
After the 2021 playoffs, Ben decided he no longer wanted to be a member of the 76ers team. He wanted to be traded and was willing to miss training camp. He felt his playing style didn't fit well with his teammate Joel Embiid.
Ben missed training camp and preseason games. He returned to the team in October 2021 but was suspended for one game due to not participating in a drill. There were disagreements about his contract during this time.
Brooklyn Nets (2022–2025)
On 10 February 2022, Ben was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a big trade. He was diagnosed with a back injury in March and missed the rest of the 2021–22 NBA season and playoffs. He had back surgery in May.
Ben made his Nets debut on 19 October 2022. He had a season-high 13 rebounds in November and scored a season-high 22 points later that month. In January 2023, he recorded his first triple-double as a Net. However, he continued to deal with knee and back issues.
In March 2023, the Nets announced that Ben would miss the rest of the season due to a nerve issue in his back. His performance during the 2022–23 NBA season was lower than his previous years.
Ben missed the first 38 games of the 2023–24 NBA season. He returned in January 2024, but only played in 15 games before another back injury ended his season in March. He had surgery to help with the nerve issue.
In February 2025, the Nets ended Ben's contract. He had played 90 games for the Nets over three seasons.
Los Angeles Clippers (2025)
On 10 February 2025, Ben signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. He made his Clippers debut on 13 February, contributing 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in a win.
National Team Career
Junior Team Experience
Ben represented Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship when he was 15 years old. He helped the team win a silver medal. He had a great game against the Czech Republic, scoring 26 points and getting 10 rebounds.
Senior Team Participation
Ben made his debut for the senior Australian national team in the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship. He helped Australia win a gold medal. In 2014, he was considered for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup team but did not make the final roster.
Ben has often said he would play for Australia in major tournaments like the Olympics. However, he has withdrawn from the team several times to focus on his NBA career or recover from injuries. For example, he withdrew from the 2016 Summer Olympics to prepare for his rookie NBA season. He also withdrew from the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Summer Olympics to focus on improving his skills or rehabilitation. He was not included in the preliminary team for the 2024 Summer Olympics due to ongoing back problems.
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 |
| 2024–25 | Brooklyn | 33 | 24 | 25.0 | .547 | — | .692 | 5.2 | 6.9 | .8 | .5 | 6.2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 17 | 0 | 16.4 | .434 | — | .857 | 3.8 | 3.1 | .7 | .4 | 2.9 | |
| Career | 383 | 344 | 31.1 | .558 | .139 | .592 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 1.5 | .7 | 13.1 | |
| 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 |
| 2025 | L.A. Clippers | 5 | 0 | 8.4 | .333 | — | — | 1.4 | .8 | .2 | .8 | .8 |
| Career | 39 | 34 | 31.6 | .567 | .000 | .520 | 7.2 | 6.6 | 1.2 | .9 | 12.2 | |
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
Ben Simmons' brother, Liam, used to be an assistant basketball coach. He later worked with Ben to help him improve his shooting. Ben's sister, Emily, works for a sports agency and is married to former NFL player Michael Bush. Ben's godfather, David Patrick, was an assistant coach at LSU when Ben played there. Sadly, a cousin of Ben's passed away in 2016.
In November 2016, Ben was featured in a 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 has an endorsement deal with Nike. He is also a fan of Australian rules football and rugby league teams.
In October 2020, Ben supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 United States presidential election. He was engaged to British TV personality Maya Jama for a time, but they ended their engagement in August 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Ben Simmons para niños
- List of NBA players born outside the United States
- List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
- List of NBA career triple-double leaders
- List of NBA career playoff triple-double leaders
