{"id":366077,"date":"2025-12-23T19:30:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T19:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/366077\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T19:30:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T19:30:14","slug":"nba-return-on-hold-ben-simmons-angling-for-success-in-pro-fishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/366077\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA return on hold, Ben Simmons angling for success in pro fishing"},"content":{"rendered":"

TARZANA, Calif. \u2013 NBA free agent Ben Simmons<\/a> is back with a team, just not in the NBA yet. Rather, the avid fisherman is the new controlling operator of the South Florida Sails of the Sport Fishing Championship.<\/p>\n

Founded in 2021, SFC is a professional offshore saltwater fishing league with tournaments featuring pro anglers. There are 16 pro angling clubs combined in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts competing in 16 tournaments for a title.<\/p>\n

Simmons has joined SFC celebrity owners such as professional golfers Scottie Scheffler, Harold Varner III and Taylor Gooch; current and former NFL stars Randy Moss and Raheem Mostert; country music star Brian Kelley; and NASCAR\u2019s Austin Dillon. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe way I see it, it\u2019s like the new F1 [Formula 1] for fishing. The new LIV Golf for fishing,\u201d Simmons told Andscape from his rented home last Friday. \u201cThe first real competitive sport fishing championship. It\u2019s a league of 16 teams, which is growing and expanding. And so, we\u2019ll go out there and compete in various different tournaments, and there\u2019ll be a champion crowned at the end. It\u2019s a point-scored system. So, you\u2019re fishing for white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish and striped marlin. There are all different point systems for each one. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very niche sport. And if you don\u2019t know, you don\u2019t know. But once you experience it and get out there and see what it\u2019s about, you\u2019re kind of in awe of what the sport is. And that\u2019s just something I\u2019ve always been interested in in terms of the sport of fishing. The technique. And there\u2019s so much to it that people just don\u2019t understand. These guys are fishing on million-dollar vessels, and they\u2019re out for days at a time. So, it\u2019s tedious and gritty, but a lot of fun. It\u2019s one of those worlds where you just got to kind of experience it, get into it and see what it\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simmons is not on an NBA roster in December for the first time since before he was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA draft out of Louisiana State University. The three-time NBA All-Star won the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year award and was an NBA All-Defensive first-team selection in 2020.<\/p>\n

But his nine-year NBA career has been highlighted by a holdout with Philadelphia and countless injuries. Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 383 regular-season games for the 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.<\/p>\n

After being cut by the Nets in February, Simmons averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists with the Clippers while playing limited minutes and dealing with back issues in 18 games last season. <\/p>\n

The unrestricted NBA free agent told Andscape that he has been engaging in two-a-day basketball, strength and rehabilitation workouts six days a week in the Los Angeles-area in hopes of getting fully healthy for a return to action. Simmons believes he is turning the corner physically and may be healthy enough to sign with a team around the NBA All-Star break if he continues to progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe it\u2019s just [about] getting on a team,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cSo, if I were to play right now, I think I\u2019d fit right into the NBA just given what I can do. But I want to give everything I can to the game. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any point in just wasting a spot just to be out there. I think that\u2019s a little selfish. And there are guys that do it now. But that\u2019s what it is, the business.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, I\u2019m very blessed to not have to be in that situation where I need to fight right now. But I want to get to the best of my ability and physical peak to compete. Otherwise, it doesn\u2019t really serve me any purpose.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Simmons talked to Andscape last Friday about his love for fishing; his excitement for the SFC; the challenged state of his body; his quest to revive his NBA career while nearing age 30; re-signing with agent Rich Paul; his biggest triumphs and regrets during his NBA career; thoughts on his fans and naysayers; and much more.<\/p>\n

\"BenGuard Ben Simmons has been working out and hopes to get fully healthy to have another chance in the NBA.<\/p>\n

Jevone Moore\/Icon Sportswire<\/p>\n

I feel like I\u2019ve been through so much and experienced so much that I\u2019m excited for the future and what that holds.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Ben Simmons on turning 30 years old in 2026<\/p>\n

So why the South Florida Sails franchise?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an existing franchise, but it hasn\u2019t been built. So, there\u2019s multiple franchises that are being sold right now. They do one at a time. At the time, I was in Miami and got the opportunity to invest. And then when I saw what they were doing and what they were building, I wanted to be a majority owner. And I\u2019m the majority owner of the South Florida Sails.<\/p>\n

So, it was a little bit of luck and just timing with everything, and it just felt so right given the position I was in and what I was really invested in in terms of what I was spending time doing. So, I just looked at it as a blessing. To go from playing in the NBA and then having opportunities to own a sailing team that\u2019s based in Miami, where I call home now, is special. I just didn\u2019t want to pass up on that. I really believe in this.<\/p>\n

The potential is scary just in terms of where it can go. It\u2019s such a niche thing. You can fish all types of ways, but I think what we\u2019re trying to do here is just get the exposure around it in general, get people in the water, give them that hospitality experience within fishing. And then on top of that, building the community in Miami. The region we have is from Fort Lauderdale all the way down to the Keys. And the fishing world is small, but big. One of our responsibilities is to connect people and give back to the community while having people support us.\u201d<\/p>\n

How did you fall in love with fishing?<\/p>\n

When I was a kid I just was always curious what was in the water. And my mom and dad used to take the dog to the beach all the time. \u2026I remember just always getting shrimp [for bait]. And I had a little rod and just going every time and just casting, sitting there for an hour, two hours, just catching small fish. Then over time you get older. You only catch bigger fish. I was in Miami every summer.<\/p>\n

I usually have a house on water, so I\u2019d go to the tackle store and get some rods, cast out. And then that turned into getting on boats, and that turned to me buying a boat. And now I\u2019m spear fishing and diving. And now I own a sport fishing team.<\/p>\n

Could you compete with your team?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t even want to compete because I\u2019m not the best angler. But I have a passion in helping these guys grow the sport because I really believe in it. So, for me to compete, it would be a little selfish. Maybe if I work hard enough to be a bit of an angler, maybe I\u2019ll put myself on the roster. But it\u2019s more so for me about building the community in Miami around the fishing. That\u2019s really important, and it\u2019s a responsibility that we have now.<\/p>\n

What kind of boat do you have?<\/p>\n

A 53 Scout. It\u2019s a 53-center console. I\u2019ve had it for about two years now. It\u2019s a badass boat. The name on the side of the boat is, \u2018The Real One Fishing Club Boat.\u2019 It\u2019s the official boat for The Real One Fishing Club.<\/p>\n

You turn 30 years old next year. Are you thinking about that much?<\/p>\n

No, I\u2019m blessed. I feel like I\u2019ve been through so much and experienced so much that I\u2019m excited for the future and what that holds. I just feel like I\u2019m always wanting to do more and more. And people don\u2019t understand that because I don\u2019t talk about it or anything like that. And I\u2019m not huge online in terms of my voice and what I\u2019m saying. But I\u2019m always wanting to do more and just build and do things that I\u2019m passionate about.<\/p>\n

Do you think because you\u2019re really reserved that that kind of works against you sometimes?<\/p>\n

It definitely works against me sometimes. But I think sometimes it works in my favor, too. I think people are always curious. Yeah, I think it goes both ways with that.<\/p>\n

Tell me about free agency this past summer?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of things happening. I think for myself, I got to the point where I just wasn\u2019t in a place physically yet to get back on the court and play to what I want to be able to give to the game. And obviously, you want to go back and get on the team, and that\u2019s the focus. But for me, I had to make a hard decision. The first thing was letting go of my original agent last summer. I just told him right now it\u2019s not a fit. And it was nothing personal against him at all. It was just for me, I wanted to take that time to get my body right, get my mind right, and just make that the sole focus.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t play this game or give what I can if mentally and physically I\u2019m not there. And the physical part is what it\u2019s been for the last two years. I feel like I\u2019m really turning a corner now, which has been a blessing because I don\u2019t think people really understood the last couple of years for me. You really want to do something, your mind is there, but your body can\u2019t physically do it, which is tough. It\u2019s a frustrating thing to go through. But I\u2019ve been through it before. It\u2019s just staying steady and continuing to work, but I have to slow down.<\/p>\n

\"BenBen Simmons has always been curious about what\u2019s in the water and loved fishing at an early age.<\/p>\n

Ben Simmons<\/p>\n

What in particular has been wrong with your body?<\/p>\n

The original time we were just approaching a lot of my rehab wrong. And I don\u2019t think it was on the therapist. I just think we had to get a new set of eyes on it. And a lot of it was my mobility and that nerve running through your back, through my leg. I could barely jump off it or really move around. So, where I\u2019m at now, I\u2019m back on court in the gym [six days per week]. It\u2019s two-a-days right now and then on court, too.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s exhausting, but this is the best I\u2019ve felt in terms of the work I\u2019ve been putting in. And so, when you see that and you\u2019re getting rewarded for it, it keeps you in there. You want to see more. So, I feel really good. I feel like physically, mentally, I\u2019m in a great place and I\u2019m very blessed.<\/p>\n

If a team offered you an opportunity right now, could you play right now?<\/p>\n

Yeah. It depends on what I want to give them, though. It\u2019s one of those things where I can go out and play and probably do really well and do important things for a team. But I want to get my body to the best it\u2019s been. That\u2019s the best of focus. I don\u2019t want to have any setbacks or anything like that. That\u2019s my major focus because I don\u2019t think it\u2019s good for anybody if I\u2019m out there and I\u2019m not 100 percent. So, for me, it\u2019s getting to my peak physicality right now and then we\u2019ll see what happens.<\/p>\n

How did you feel last season?<\/p>\n

I felt like I could barely really move how I wanted to. It was tough to really do what I wanted to do given where I was. And at the same time, some people are happy with maybe you can give me a few minutes doing this and that. For me, I want to be able to do as much as I can. I don\u2019t want to go out there knowing I\u2019m going to play a certain amount of minutes when I know I can give more.<\/p>\n

Not playing much in the playoffs last season for the Clippers, how tough was that? And what was your body telling you at that time?<\/p>\n

It was more exhausting than anything. You\u2019re going back not knowing what you can do physically, and it\u2019s just tough. Your mind is telling you that you want to do more and more. But you physically can\u2019t do it. So, that\u2019s just the biggest thing for me. And then it gets draining. Mentally, it\u2019s fatiguing to deal with that year after year. So, for this summer, I got to the point where I was like, \u2018Let me just focus on my body and mind and let\u2019s see where we can get.\u2019<\/p>\n

Are you putting any timeframe on a return?<\/p>\n

Yeah, I\u2019m looking maybe halfway through this year, if not next season. Yeah, it just depends how far I can come along in that next month or so. But I\u2019m feeling great. I haven\u2019t had any setbacks.<\/p>\n

This is the first time you haven\u2019t been on a team since when?<\/p>\n

No. I\u2019m on a team now. It\u2019s South Florida Sails. I don\u2019t know. Since I started playing. My sister asked me that the other day, \u2018How do you feel? You good?\u2019 I\u2019m like, \u2018I\u2019m great. What\u2019s meant to be will be.\u2019 I just purchased a team. I\u2019m like, \u2018Let\u2019s focus on that.\u2019 The basketball stuff will be handled.<\/p>\n

What do you miss the most about playing in the NBA?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m just competitive. I\u2019m a competitor. That\u2019s what it is. I like to hit [expletives]. I like to dunk on people. I love to put on a show on the court, and I love to win. And I think just that camaraderie you have with your teammates is always great. But everything else that comes with the NBA is great. The money, the access, and things like that are always great. But I just don\u2019t look at myself like I need to be around that all the time.<\/p>\n

Being away from basketball and that fame is a lot different than what people know. And I had time to go back to Australia this summer, which was amazing. I hadn\u2019t been home in five years, and I was just out there fishing and walking around the bush and hitting the beaches and things like that. It was just amazing. So yeah, it gave me time to really just take a step back.<\/p>\n

What do you think is the perception and reality about you?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know at this point. I don\u2019t know at this point. I just take it for what it is. It\u2019s funny. It just comes with it. I actually don\u2019t know. I go out the other day and I was just driving around and I get so much love from people saying what\u2019s up and things like that. And then you see the internet people. It comes with it.<\/p>\n

Do you even pay attention to what people say on social media about you?<\/p>\n

Some things are just so in your face that you see it, but what does it really mean? My mind looks at it differently. I just see it differently. Just seeing so much. I think just being through the fire and being through the [expletive] and seeing what\u2019s real, what\u2019s not, and who you are. For me, I was figuring out who I was. I was like, \u2018I love this fishing stuff. I love I\u2019m Australian. I didn\u2019t even grow up from the States and people don\u2019t know that.\u2019 So, just that and being comfortable with being like, \u2018Yeah, this is what I love, this is what I do, this is what I am.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Ben Ben Simmons looks back fondly at the \u2018process of going through everything\u2019 during his time in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

AP Photo\/John Bazemore, File<\/p>\n

When you reflect on your career, when were you the happiest playing in the NBA?<\/p>\n

Just being in Philly. I don\u2019t think it was necessarily a time. I think it was just the process of going through everything. Being drafted. Being in Philadelphia. Just really going through all of it, because people don\u2019t get to experience that. I\u2019ve been All-NBA. I\u2019ve been All-Defense. All-Star. I\u2019ve done things that people would never do or experience, so I\u2019m very blessed for that. So, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a time. I think all of it is just like it sculpts you into who you\u2019re supposed to be and what you need. And maybe I needed this. Now I\u2019m happy to be where I\u2019m at.<\/p>\n

What would you say was the darkest time, the toughest, of your NBA career?<\/p>\n

Injuries. Back injury. That\u2019s the thing. My first injury was my foot. I broke my foot, missed my first [season] of my career, came back and felt great. But the back was something different because it\u2019s not a bone. You can\u2019t just get an X-ray and see if it\u2019s swollen, it\u2019s broken here. It\u2019s a different beast, and people don\u2019t really understand that. So just I think going through that whole process and people understanding and not always believing what they read or see or hear, because there\u2019s a lot of people out there just talking nonsense.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got money. You\u2019ve proven you could play in this league. Why is it worth putting your body through this?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re human. We want to find out. I got to see. I don\u2019t think this story is over for me playing, but let\u2019s see where it goes. So as long as I put in that work and put the energy into doing that, then everything else will write itself.<\/p>\n

How would you describe your passion for the game of basketball right now?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m just a competitor. I grew up on the court. So, it\u2019s what I know, and it brings something else out of me. There\u2019s other things that do that, but at this level, to be able to play against the best in the world and compete, it\u2019s a dream. And you always want to be able to do that and test yourself. And that\u2019s what the NBA does.<\/p>\n

Anything when you reflect on your career where you say, \u201cIf I could go back, I would have done this differently?\u201d<\/p>\n

Yeah, I definitely think there are situations that I would have handled differently. But that also comes with, you don\u2019t know what you don\u2019t know. You learn and you grow. And I\u2019m a big believer in things happen for a reason: You deal with it, you learn, you grow. \u2026<\/p>\n

I think probably just the exit of how things went down [in Philadelphia]. But at the same time, there were multiple people involved that played a role in that. So, it wasn\u2019t just one side. It was many things playing into that, which people do not know. So, it\u2019s a part of it.<\/p>\n

\"BenBen Simmons: \u201cI feel like my shot now is a lot better than the last time I actually stepped on the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marc J. Spears<\/p>\n

Anything you want to share?<\/p>\n

No. There is too much to share.<\/p>\n

Why did you return to agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports?<\/p>\n

For me, there was a trust there. I think things had happened where it was maybe good for that relationship for us to go our [separate] ways at that time. But at the same time, I got a lot of love for Rich and Klutch just because that\u2019s where I started. And I think it\u2019s mutual. I respect Rich and what he\u2019s done, what he\u2019s built. And it\u2019s somebody I trust. He\u2019s going to keep it real with me, and I think that\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n

What kind of counsel is Rich Paul giving you right now? And what is he telling you about your situation?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any real pressure or worry. I think it\u2019s just they felt the same way as I felt. I said, \u2018I need just time to get ready and just focus on my body.\u2019 There\u2019s no point in going out there and not being physically able and everyone\u2019s on the same page, so it\u2019s just working until you\u2019re right. \u2026<\/p>\n

I never had any bad blood with [Klutch Sports]. It was just one of those things where it\u2019s like, we\u2019re men. We\u2019re not boys. It is what it is. S\u2014 happened. Let\u2019s figure it out. Let\u2019s talk. That\u2019s how relationships figure themselves out, and you talk them through. But there\u2019s no bad blood. It is what it is. It\u2019s family. I fight with my family all the time and things happen.<\/p>\n

How do you take critiques on free-throw shooting and 3-point shooting? Is there anything you could do differently about that in the future?<\/p>\n

I feel like my shot now is a lot better than the last time I actually stepped on the floor. But a lot of that is just your touch. If your back is messed up and you\u2019re extending, that\u2019s already pulling on your spine, and people don\u2019t even understand that side of things. So, to be whole and feel strong and your core to feel strong is a different feeling. You have control of what you are able to do \u2014 your touch; you\u2019re not thinking about things.<\/p>\n

That was one of the huge things for me. I\u2019m telling my trainers, I\u2019m like, \u2018Yo, I can\u2019t even make a hook shot. I have no balance. I have no stability.\u2019 And I\u2019m out there trying to do whatever I can, but that\u2019s a part of it, too.<\/p>\n

Should you have taken this break a while ago?<\/p>\n

Yeah, for sure. Two years ago, I should have taken it. One hundred percent. It was just the timelines. You have your contract; you got to play. I\u2019m like, s\u2014, I\u2019m trying to do what I can to get on the court and show people I want to play. But 100%. \u2026<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t move [in Brooklyn]. I woke up one day, this is before Game 4 [of the 2022 NBA playoffs] against [the Boston] Celtics when KD [Kevin Durant] and Kyrie [Irving] were there. This is when I had just got there, too. We were down 0-3 and I\u2019m supposed to be playing Game 4, but I could barely move. I could barely get out the bed. My back was not there.<\/p>\n

I remember just having the full meeting about it and I was just like, \u2018Look, for my health, I got to do the right thing.\u2019 And people don\u2019t understand that, either. And then there was another time where I had drop leg for a second in New York, and that\u2019s when people started taking it seriously. So, it took that for people to really listen: my leg going numb and not being able to use it.<\/p>\n

So, it is what it is. That\u2019s life. People make mistakes and things happen, but you\u2019ve just got to keep moving.<\/p>\n

How would you grade your NBA career?<\/p>\n

Highs and lows. I don\u2019t really know. I think it\u2019s unique in its own way. And that\u2019s everybody. Many players are going to come through and have different careers, different paths, and mine is what it is. I\u2019ve done things that a lot have never done or will never do. And I\u2019m very blessed for that. So, I don\u2019t take for granted, but I\u2019m also not done. Whether it\u2019s basketball or team ownership or fishing, whatever it is, I\u2019m always active. So that\u2019s something for me that I\u2019m always going to be there trying to do more and whatever I\u2019m passionate about and pushing that.<\/p>\n

How cool is it being in a financial position to be an owner?<\/p>\n

It is badass. Yeah, it\u2019s sick. I love it. That makes me happy. Just being able to be an owner of what I believe is going to be a huge team in Florida and in that fishing world. So, it\u2019s an honor, and I think there\u2019s a lot of responsibility with it. \u2026<\/p>\n

I know how [Brooklyn Nets owner] Joe Tsai feels just watching. A lot of these owners are passionate about the sport, and that\u2019s why you get involved. And it\u2019s the same with me. I\u2019m passionate about fishing, and the opportunity came along and I took the chance on it, and I\u2019m excited to build this team and see where I can go.<\/p>\n

How much time and energy do you put into your fishing club?<\/p>\n

I think me being very involved and knowing what\u2019s going on and having hands on it is going to push it. But I\u2019m every day with it. Same as the gym. Those two things right now are in my life.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t have too much free time. And if I do, it\u2019s nighttime. And at nighttime, I\u2019m trying to go to sleep. I got to be up at 6 [a.m.].<\/p>\n

For the people who do love you, the NBA fans looking forward to seeing you come back, what would you tell them?<\/p>\n

My fans and the people who do believe me believe in me for a reason. And some things are just understood. So, I appreciate the people who do support me, and I\u2019m not done. I\u2019ve got more to give. So, if you support me still now, then continue because there\u2019s more to come.<\/p>\n

Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn\u2019t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"TARZANA, Calif. \u2013 NBA free agent Ben Simmons is back with a team, just not in the NBA…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":366078,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[355,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-366077","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-nba","9":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=366077"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366077\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/366078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=366077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=366077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=366077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}