Free-agent forward Ben Simmons has bought a stake in a professional fishing organization as he prepares to potentially return to the NBA. <\/p>\n
South Florida Sails Angling Club, a group in the Sports Fishing Championship, announced Tuesday that Simmons had purchased an ownership stake in the team, per Sam Jane<\/a> of The Athletic. <\/p>\n “I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward,” Simmons said as part of the announcement, via Jane. “Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is.”<\/p>\n Simmons appeared in 51 combined games with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field. <\/p>\n The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft earned Rookie of the Year honors with the Philadelphia 76ers, making three straight All-Star appearances in Philadelphia from 2018-21.<\/p>\n Simmons eventually missed his 2021-22 campaign due to a\u00a0holdout<\/a>\u00a0as well as a\u00a0back injury<\/a>\u00a0that required surgery. He was\u00a0traded<\/a>\u00a0by the 76ers to the Brooklyn Nets in Sept. 2022 and continued to struggle with availability before he\u00a0underwent<\/a>\u00a0a second procedure on his back to close out the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n