Free agent Ben Simmons is drawing interest from several NBA teams as he prepares for a potential return to the league, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN. The 30-year-old is open to signing a minimum contract and has a non-guaranteed offer from a Western Conference team, according to sources cited by Spears.
Simmons is also expected to participate without restrictions in a player-led private minicamp for the Australian national team beginning Monday in Melbourne. Arizona State assistant David Patrick, who is Simmons’ godfather and an Australian national team assistant, told Andscape that Simmons has regained his athleticism.
The minicamp represents an important step for Simmons after he did not play during the 2025-26 NBA season while prioritizing recovery from back and other injuries. His most recent NBA action came with the LA Clippers in 2024-25, when he averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 18 regular-season games after joining the team in February 2025.
Simmons also appeared in five playoff games for the Clippers that season. He shot 43.4% from the field during the regular season but averaged only 16.4 minutes per game.
His recent production is a significant departure from the player who established himself as one of the NBA’s best two-way playmakers in Philadelphia. Simmons averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 79 games during the 2018-19 season, earning his first All-Star selection.
Simmons followed that with 16.4 points, 8.0 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 57 games in 2019-20. He was selected to the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team while finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
In 2020-21, Simmons averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 58 games. He made another All-Star team and All-Defensive First Team while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and 12th in MVP voting.
Injuries have since limited Simmons to 126 regular-season games across the following three seasons before his 2025-26 absence. He has not played more than 60 games in a season since appearing in 79 games for Philadelphia in 2018-19.
Simmons’ career averages stand at 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists over 383 regular-season games. He has shot 55.8% from the field while attempting only 0.1 three-pointers per game.
The Australian guard-forward is now working primarily in Miami and hopes to earn a place with the Boomers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Simmons has played for Australia twice, both appearances coming at the 2013 FIBA Men’s Oceania Championships when he was 17.
