Ben Simmons might've already played his final NBA game, meaning the former No. 1 overall pick's career could end with his brief Los Angeles Clippers stint this past season. Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported on Wednesday that Simmons is "questioning whether he even wants to continue playing in the NBA next season." He could be headed for retirement (subscription required).
Bondy said that Simmons has "generated interest from the Knicks and another team," so it's not like he's completely out of NBA options. He is without an agent, though. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Thursday that Bernie Lee "removed himself" as Simmons' agent.
As Ben Simmons decides his next career steps, I'm told Bernie Lee has notified @TheNBPA that he has formally removed himself from the union's ledger as Simmons' agent.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 4, 2025
The next few weeks will determine the direction Simmons decides to take, as training camp is set to open at the end of the month. The regular season will begin in a month and a half. He doesn't necessarily have to sign with a team before the season starts, but that'd be the preference of the teams interested in him, if they do want to sign him.
Ben Simmons is considering retiring after brief Clippers stint
Los Angeles signed Simmons in February after he and Brooklyn agreed to a contract buyout. He averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game for the Clippers, shooting 43.4% from the field in 18 games.
He entered the offseason as a free agent, and the fact that he hasn't been signed by now (if he wasn't thinking about retiring) isn't surprising. His once-promising NBA career was derailed by injuries. An ugly breakup with the Sixers led Simmons to the Nets, where he missed significant time and never averaged double-digits in points scored.
It feels like Simmons may actually be at the end of his career, as in, it could be over. Signing with the Knicks would allow him to help New York make a push for a title, which is what most people thought he would do in Philadelphia alongside Joel Embiid. Tom Thibodeau is no longer in town, so Simmons wouldn't have to fight as hard for minutes.
Is that something Simmons even cares about, though? He may find that he's more content stepping away from basketball, rather than giving it another go.
Hopefully, whatever happens, Simmons finds what he's looking for.