Ben Simmons Says He'd Return To Play With Philadelphia For Free

Basketball fans last saw Ben Simmons suiting up for the LA Clippers in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Playing just a shade under five minutes off the bench, Simmons finished the night with only one shot attempt, a defensive rebound, and a blocked shot. Many figured that this would be the last they saw of the talented, yet troubled, 28-year-old Australian point guard.

Starting his career in Philadelphia as the first overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons quickly earned praise for his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court, becoming a three-time All-Star, a two-time All-Defensive Team member, and a focal point of the 76ers' future. Then came the 2021 playoffs and the much-talked-about downward spiral that started in the Atlanta Hawks series.

A shell of his former self, Simmons went on a rollercoaster ride of mental and physical health issues with both the 76ers and eventually the Brooklyn Nets, all while earning no less than $30 million per season. After three and a half seasons in Brooklyn, the Nets waived Simmons, who was making $39 million in 2024–25, leaving him to sign a $755,826 contract with the LA Clippers.

Recently, Simmons dropped a surprising comment on Instagram, telling fans he'd return to play for Philadelphia without a paycheck. For a guy who once racked up nearly $20 million in fines during a messy holdout, those are pretty shocking words.

The 29-year-old remains unsigned as December rolls by and teams hit the 20+ game mark. He insists he's focused on getting his body fully healthy before putting himself at risk again, which tells you everything about where his career has gone. When your biggest selling point is "maybe I'll be healthy this time," it’s a tough sell to any team that would even be remotely interested in signing him.

What makes this whole situation fascinating is the unfinished business angle. The Sixers breakup was one of the ugliest stories in recent history: training camp holdout, obvious disinterest when he finally showed up, and a forced trade that everyone knew was coming. While Simmons was telling people one thing, his actions led the public to believe another, with the probability that the truth was somewhere in between.

Even if Simmons means every word of his social media claim, would the City of Brotherly Love actually want him back? The team hasn't advanced past the second round despite their efforts since trading him, but bringing back a guy who can't shoot and hasn't been healthy since 2021 feels more like nostalgia than strategy. Considering the Sixers are already saddled with often-injured Joel Embiid and Paul George, it doesn’t make much sense, even if Simmons were to play for free (or the NBA minimum). For a team that is surprisingly just a game out of a top-six playoff berth thanks in large part to its talented young backcourt, the risk of bringing back a former dark cloud isn’t even worth the distraction.

Maybe that's what makes his offer so poignant. It's been four straight years of injuries and underwhelming play for Simmons, and now he's essentially begging for a chance to rewrite the ending. Playing for free isn't about the money, it's about proving he's still got something left. Whether anyone believes that, including the Sixers, is another question entirely.