The Ben Simmons-Philadelphia 76ers relationship has been one of the most publicized sagas in modern NBA history.
It ended via a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022, as Philadelphia shipped Simmons along with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and several draft picks in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap.
Simmons became a shell of himself with the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers before sitting out 2025-26 to recover from injuries and reset mentally. However, reports emerged that the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year is gearing up for an NBA comeback, and Philadelphia is among his top destinations.
In a recent appearance on the “Game Over” podcast, Simmons’ former agent, Rich Paul, shared his thoughts about the three-time All-Star’s NBA future.
He stressed that Simmons isn’t done playing basketball at the highest level because he’s only 30 years old and still at his peak. Paul added that he can be a valuable addition to any team as a pick-and-roll big man. Simmons also teased in an interview with Men’s Health that he’s interested in returning to the team that drafted him.
The potential reunion isn’t a far-fetched scenario because of the Klutch Sports connection, with LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey both represented by Paul.
Another reason that ties Simmons to a comeback with the Sixers is their need for a big man after Andre Drummond signed with the New York Knicks this offseason. While the Australian is not a natural center, he can man the middle given his 6-foot-10, 240-pound frame.
Simmons has the skill set to be a solid backup for Joel Embiid as well as a facilitator on offense. He is switchable at every position and can create mismatches.
The arrival of James and Jaylen Brown should relieve Simmons of any pressure to be a primary scorer because he can focus on orchestrating the offense and containing players on the defensive end.
Should the reunion happen, Philly fans’ reception for Simmons will be interesting to see as they likely haven’t forgotten the costly mistake he made during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. However, if he plays his role well, the hate from fans will eventually subside, especially now that 76ers have a superteam. If Simmons wants redemption with the franchise, he’ll have to settle for a veteran’s minimum deal.
Philadelphia won’t need to worry about the team’s salary cap and luxury tax, while Simmons will have the chance to prove that he’s still an elite two-way player.
