Ben Simmons Contemplating Retiring From NBA Sends Fans in Splits: “Keyword For ‘No One Wants Me'”

6' 10" guard Ben Simmons is a free agent and is still looking for a role in the NBA as he looks to continue to play basketball.

Ben Simmons Contemplating Retiring From NBA Sends Fans in Splits: “Keyword For ‘No One Wants Me'”

Ben Simmons contemplating retiring from NBA (Image via FirstSportz)

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Ben Simmons was touted to be a great prospect. In his first 4 seasons in the NBA, he lived up to that hype, becoming an important part of the Philadelphia 76ers, giving their fans hope of a possible title challenge in the future.

That future has not come yet, as both Simmons and the franchise are yet to fulfil their goals. Some blame the franchise for wasting their efforts on the Australian, especially after he had a moment to forget during the 2021 playoffs.

Since then, he has suffered injuries, which, combined with a lack of play time, have significantly undermined his skills as an elite basketball player. Last season, after again missing time, he returned to play for the Brooklyn Nets.

But in February, he was waived after the franchise bought out the remainder of his contract. He signed a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers and proceeded to play 22 games, including the playoffs, as part of their rotation.

Now in the offseason, he is a free agent and has been looking at his options. It was going to be difficult to find a good role after posting career lows across the board. On that note, New York Post’s Stefon Bondy wrote this in an article.

Ben Simmons has generated interest from the Knicks and another team but is also questioning whether he even wants to continue playing in the NBA next season, The Post has learned.

Stefon Bondy wrote in his article

The New York Knicks have a need at the guard position and could use his athleticism and defense. However, Ben Simmons is not sure if he wants to continue playing in the NBA after seeing his role diminish.

Fans troll Ben Simmons for thinking about retirement

Basketball fans were already aware that Ben Simmons was not receiving any significant interest from NBA teams. A combination of injuries, his questionable desire to play, as well as his mentality has fans wondering if any team wants to go through the pain.

Fans know that teams want players who have the desire to perform, and the 6′ 10″ guard has not displayed an inch of it over the course of his career.

They believe his retirement thoughts have come about as he has understood he might not play for long, and it is better to walk away. Check out examples of those reactions below.

Ben Simmons has talked about his mental health in the past. To his credit, maybe he does not want to become a laughingstock in the league. He knows fans, former players, and executives have an opinion about him, and if he continues, it is likely that their trolls will increase.

Ben Simmons amassed more than $200 million on potential

The great Michael Jordan once stated on Oprah Winfrey‘s show that during his time, basketball players were paid on the basis of how they performed. Nowadays, the NBA pays players based on potential.

76ers banked on Ben Simmons' potential
76ers banked on Ben Simmons’ potential (Image via Bleacher Report/X)

If one had to look at Ben Simmons’ career, this is the finest example of that statement. The LSU alum was selected 1st overall in the 2016 Draft when most executives were not as convinced about his potential as the Philadelphia 76ers were.

3 years later, he signed a 5-year, $177 million contract with the Sixers. He then wanted to leave the team after he felt the team had given up on him after his playoff debacle.

The franchise ended up docking him nearly $10 million in fines and a similar amount for missing games. He recovered some of it after the players’ union acted on a grievance and helped settle on an amount with the Sixers.

If he did recover most of that fine amount, the former All-Defensive 1st teamer has amassed $203 million over the course of 9 years. All of that money was based on potential alone, as he has not played enough games to give the respective teams their money’s worth.

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