Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons is content to put his career on hold until he feels physically ready to play basketball full time again.<\/p>\n
“I’m about to be 30 years old, and I need to make the best decision for Ben Simmons,” he told The Athletic’s Sam Jane<\/a>. “It’s not fun going out there, not being able to move, not be able to jump, or, you know, take hits. There’s no fun in that. Sometimes you got to make a decision with how you feel and what’s best for yourself. And that’s what I’ve done, and it’s not for everybody to really understand, because they’re not in my shoes.”<\/p>\n Jane reported Simmons wants his body to be “bulletproof,” so he avoids the persistent injuries that limited him to 108 total appearances since the start of the 2021-22 season.<\/p>\n “He also said his shot finally feels good and that he can now take a simple hook shot without any discomfort,” per Jane.<\/p>\n Simmons hasn’t been the same player since the nadir of the 2021 NBA playoffs. He was made a bit of a scapegoat<\/a> for the Philadelphia 76ers’ second-round exit, and his relationship with the team never recovered.<\/p>\n The Brooklyn Nets, who acquired the 29-year-old in February 2022, discovered he had a herniated disc that required surgery<\/a>. Another procedure followed<\/a> in March 2024.<\/p>\n The effects of the surgeries are evident in his production along with all of the missed games.<\/p>\n Between spells with the Nets and Los Angeles Clippers last year, Simmons averaged five points and 4.7 rebounds 51 appearances. He was a shell of the two-way force who made three straight All-Star teams with the Sixers.<\/p>\n