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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 23: Ben Simmons #25 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Intuit Dome on March 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Ben Simmons has had a tumultuous basketball career. The former No. 1 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> in the 2016 NBA Draft, has seen his fair share of highs and lows since entering the league.<\/p>\n After hearing his name called on that fateful Thursday in 2016, Simmons would soon become sidelined for an entire season. Simmons fractured his right foot during training camp while preparing for his rookie season.<\/p>\n While his NBA debut would have to wait for more than a calendar-year, he would pick up right where he left off at LSU two years prior. Simmons won the Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 15.8 points, 8.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game playing in 81 total games that season.<\/p>\n With his career headed in the right direction, he\u2019d be named an All-Star in three consecutive seasons (2019-2021) as well as two first-team, all-defensive teams. And then, his career would take a turn for the worse \u2014 again. He\u2019d fail to start more than 33 games in any season after that, missing two full seasons as well.<\/p>\n NBA Team Invites Ben Simmons to Training Camp<\/p>\n Despite all of the above, Simmons is on the NBA comeback-trail. And this isn\u2019t just Simmons saying he wants to make a comeback. According to Marc Spears, a senior NBA writer for ESPN, Simmons has a legitimate offer to join the training camp of a Western Conference team.<\/p>\n \u201cHe does have an offer from a West team to come to a training camp,\u201d Spears said on NBA Today on Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe does have an offer from a West team to come to a training camp.\u201d \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n \u2014@MarcJSpears<\/a> gives an update on Ben Simmons\u2019 potential return to the NBA \ud83c\udfc0 <\/p>\n Simmons has been seen working out and preparing for his comeback in Australia. He\u2019s also expected to be a full participant with \u201czero restrictions\u201d at a player-led private minicamp for the Australian men\u2019s basketball team. This is scheduled to begin on Monday in Melbourne.<\/p>\n Spears would elaborate on the offer Simmons received, however, the team would remain a secret.<\/p>\n \u201cA non-guaranteed offer. I think he\u2019s hoping if he plays well in this training camp, with coaches like (Adam) Caporn from the Wizards<\/a> and other people with NBA ties at this camp that perhaps this could lead to something else. There\u2019s a couple other teams that are interested, so I think maybe he\u2019ll have an option soon that he really likes,\u201d Spears said.<\/p>\n Simmons Fully Invested in NBA Comeback<\/p>\n Simmons has played in parts of seven seasons with three different teams, the 76ers, the Brooklyn Nets<\/a>, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He hasn\u2019t realized his full potential on an NBA court since the 2020-21 season. That year he finished No. 12 in the NBA MVP vote and No. 2 in the Defensive Player of the Year Award vote.<\/p>\n On the path to his comeback, Simmons has also sprinkled in his personal touch. Earlier this week, he posted a heartfelt message on his official Instagram account (bensimmons)<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t change the story.<\/p>\n The highs, the lows, the pain, the time, the lessons. I embrace all of it.<\/p>\n Every chapter built something in me that I couldn\u2019t have built any other way.<\/p>\n Grateful for where I\u2019ve been. Proud of where I stand. Ready for wherever this goes. \ud83d\ude24\u201d<\/p>\n Time will presumably tell which Western Conference team offered him this training camp invitation. And, his performance this week in Australia could go a long way toward securing another NBA contract.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tDave Ettinger<\/a> Dave Ettinger is a veteran sports writer, covering breaking and trending news across the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. With over 10 years of experience in sports media, Dave\u2019s versatility extends to television, radio, and journalism. More about Dave Ettinger<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t