Ben Simmons, the former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, is currently training with no limitations as he prepares for a potential return to the league. The 30-year-old is participating in a player-led private minicamp with the Australian men’s basketball team in Melbourne.
Simmons, a three-time All-Star point guard, missed the entire 2025-26 NBA season due to back and other injuries that have affected his career. His last NBA appearance was with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he played 18 games during March and April 2025.
Several NBA franchises have shown interest in Simmons, who is reportedly open to signing a minimum contract. Notably, he is said to have a non-guaranteed offer from a Western Conference team. Meanwhile, he is also focused on representing Australia at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Before traveling to Melbourne for this week’s camp, Simmons had been training primarily in Miami, where he resides, funding his trip independently. Drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 out of LSU, Simmons debuted in the NBA a year later and earned the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year award.
Throughout his career, Simmons has been recognized as a three-time All-Star and twice selected for the NBA All-Defensive team. However, injuries have limited his playing time, as he has not appeared in more than 58 games in a single season since 2018-19.
Over 383 career games, including 344 starts with the 76ers (2017-21), Brooklyn Nets (2022-25), and Clippers, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His ongoing recovery and training suggest he is determined to make a strong comeback to the NBA.
