NBA Exec: Ben Simmons' Career Is Over
We reported this week that free agent Ben Simmons was deciding between the New York Knicks, and retirement.
An NBA executive is now telling Hoops Wire that Simmons' career is, for all intents and purposes, done.
I think his NBA career is over. That’s not meant to disparage Ben. I think he can still play and probably help someone. But there are just too many things working against him right now. I know we would not have an interest in signing him.
Scouts also told Hoops Wire that the lack of interest around the league is making the decision for him.
“I don’t think there’s any real interest in him beyond teams putting out some feelers,” one scout said. “So if he does retire, he can spin it as if it’s being done by choice. But I think teams are probably going to make that decision for him.”
Yet another sign of Simmons' plummeting into career purgatory is the fact that his agent Bernie Lee has cut ties with him and will no longer represent him, according to insider Mark Stein. That's the second agent that's dumped Simmons in his career.
Even ex-players are telling the former All-Star to give it up.
Jeff Teague calls for Ben Simmons to retire:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 5, 2025
“We’d love you to come sit down and talk cause it’s over… he can’t move no more, he running like people on 2K… he legit hurt.”
(via @club520podcast, h/t @Fullcourtpass)pic.twitter.com/lVID4zdAiO
Jeff Teague, himself retired, played against Simmons for several years, and he's saying on the Club 520 podcast, “We’d love you to come sit down and talk, cause it’s over… he can’t move no more, he running like people on 2K… he legit hurt.”
Simmons was a 3-time All-Star until he made the regretful decision to sit out the 2021-22 season in a holdout from the Philadelphia 76ers. Since then, he's looked disinterested on the court, afraid to shoot (even more than he was before), injured and just a shell of himself.
If this is it for Simmons, he'll hang it up with a 13.1 ppg average, 7.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds. He finished last season with the LA Clippers, where, in 18 games, he averaged 2.9 points in 16 minutes a night.
Photo: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
