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Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player who is currently signed with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began playing basketball at the age of seven and excelled at the sport. He played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers, after which he was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Year and selected as the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons has had a successful NBA career, being named to the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star team multiple times and leading the league in steals per game during the 2019-20 season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 July 1996 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian-American (dual citizen) |
| Teams played for | Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers |
| Current team | Los Angeles Clippers |
| College team | LSU Tigers |
| College | Louisiana State University |
| High school | Montverde Academy, Box Hill Senior Secondary College |
| Height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Weight | N/A |
| Net worth | $8 million |
| Positions | Guard-Forward |
| Career highlights | NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018, NBA All-Star in 2019, 2020, and 2021, NBA All-Defensive first team in 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
Ben Simmons' basketball career
Benjamin David Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player. Born on 20 July 1996 in Melbourne, Australia, Simmons began playing basketball at the age of seven for the Newcastle Hunters' under-12 representative team. At age 10, he returned to Melbourne and began playing junior basketball for the Knox Raiders. Simmons also played rugby and Australian rules football as a youngster.
In year 7, while attending Whitefriars College, Simmons was named MVP after helping Whitefriars win the Year-7 Division 1A basketball premiership. At the age of 15, Simmons played basketball for Box Hill Senior Secondary College at the 2011 Australian Schools Championships. He then took up a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport in 2012. Later that year, Simmons made his first appearance in the United States at the Pangos All-American Camp for basketball prospects. Despite being only 15 years old, he was chosen to represent Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.
In 2013, Simmons moved to the U.S. to attend Montverde Academy in Florida. In April 2013, he helped Montverde rally from a 16-point deficit to beat St. Benedict's in the final of the High School National Tournament. Following his junior season in 2013-14, Simmons averaged 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He was named America's top high school junior and voted MVP at the National Basketball Players' Association Top 100 camp.
In 2014, Simmons signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU). He began his college career on a four-stop national tour in Australia with the LSU Tigers. Upon returning to the United States, Simmons was featured on the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook 35th-anniversary cover and was named the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year. On 13 November 2015, Simmons made his college debut, recording a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
After one season with LSU, Simmons left school to enter the 2016 NBA draft, where he was selected as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Due to an injured right foot, he sat out the 2016-17 season. Simmons made his NBA debut on 18 October 2017. In 2018, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and was selected for the NBA All-Star Game. Simmons played for the 76ers until the 2020-21 season, after which he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. In February 2025, Simmons signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
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His performance in the NBA
Ben Simmons, an Australian professional basketball player, began his basketball journey at the age of seven with the Newcastle Hunters' under-12 representative team. He later played for Lake Macquarie and Newcastle before moving back to Melbourne at age 10, where he joined the Knox Raiders. As a youth, Simmons also showcased his athletic prowess in rugby and Australian rules football. However, he eventually decided to focus on basketball, a sport that ran in the family, as his father played professional basketball in Australia.
Simmons' talent became evident when he helped Montverde Academy rally from a 16-point deficit to secure a 67-65 victory in the High School National Tournament final. His performance earned him a spot at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers. In his debut for LSU, he recorded 11 points and 13 rebounds, showcasing his potential. Throughout his sole season with LSU, Simmons continued to impress, with a notable performance of 43 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks in a victory over North Florida.
Simmons' outstanding college performance led to him being selected as the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, due to an injured right foot, he sat out the first year. Simmons made his NBA debut in the 2017-18 season, and his impact was immediate. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and was selected for the NBA All-Star Game three times. During his time with the 76ers, Simmons established himself as a versatile player, contributing in various areas of the game, including scoring, rebounding, and playmaking.
After the 2020-21 season, Simmons had a holdout with the 76ers, which resulted in him being traded to the Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately, his stint with the Nets was short-lived, as his contract was bought out in February 2025. Simmons then signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, joining his current team. Despite some injury setbacks, Simmons continues to be a valuable contributor to the Clippers, providing solid all-around statistics across the board.
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His college basketball career
Ben Simmons' college basketball career began with the LSU Tigers at Louisiana State University. He played college basketball for just one season, after which he was named a consensus first-team All-American and the USBWA National Freshman of the Year.
Simmons committed to LSU in 2013, picking it over other offers from Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke. He began his freshman year on a four-stop national tour in Australia with the LSU Tigers. The Tigers completed their five-game tour with a 3–2 record, and Simmons averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game, leading the team in all major statistical categories.
Upon returning to the United States, Simmons was featured on the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook 35th-anniversary cover and was named the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year. He made his college debut on 13 November 2015, recording 11 points and 13 rebounds as a starter in a win over McNeese State.
Although LSU began the season with high expectations, they failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Simmons left college to enter the NBA draft, becoming the third Melbourne-born number one overall pick in 11 years.
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His time with the Brooklyn Nets
Ben Simmons, an Australian professional basketball player, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022. He was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he had been since 2016 and with whom he had a somewhat successful career, being named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and selected three times for the NBA All-Star Game.
Simmons' time with the Nets was marked by injury and absence. He was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back in March 2022, which kept him out for the remainder of the regular season and the play-in tournament. He had been expected to make his season debut in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics, but back soreness prevented him from playing. The Nets lost the game and were eliminated from the playoffs. Simmons underwent back surgery in May 2022.
Simmons finally made his Nets debut on 19 October 2022, in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He put up four points, five rebounds, and five assists before fouling out. He finished the 2024-25 campaign with averages of 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks across 22.0 minutes per game in 51 regular-season appearances. His contract was bought out by the Nets in February 2025, and he subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Simmons' time with the Nets was short and largely unremarkable due to his injuries and limited playing time. Despite this, he still managed to contribute to the team with his assists and rebounds.
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His personal life
Benjamin David Simmons, born on July 20, 1996, in Melbourne, Australia, is an Australian professional basketball player. He is the son of an American-born father, Dave, who played professional basketball in Australia, and a white Australian mother, Julie. Simmons has five siblings—Melissa, Emily, Liam, Sean, and Olivia—the first four being from his mother's previous marriage.
Simmons began playing basketball at a young age and excelled at the sport. He started playing at age seven in the Newcastle Hunters' under-12 representative team. He later played for Lake Macquarie and Newcastle before returning to Melbourne at age 10 and joining the Knox Raiders. Besides basketball, Simmons also played rugby and Australian rules football as a youngster. At 15, he represented Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, where the team finished as runner-up.
In 2013, Simmons moved to the United States to attend the renowned Montverde Academy in Florida, known for its successful basketball program. He helped Montverde win three consecutive national high-school championships (2013-2015) and became one of the most sought-after college basketball recruits. In 2015, Simmons graduated from Montverde and attended Louisiana State University (LSU) on a basketball scholarship. During his freshman year, he averaged impressive stats, including 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
After his successful freshman year, Simmons decided to leave LSU and enter the 2016 NBA draft. He was selected as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, due to a foot injury, he missed the 2016–17 NBA season. Simmons made a strong comeback in the following season, helping the 76ers improve their record by 24 wins and reach the NBA playoffs. His performance earned him the NBA's Rookie of the Year award in 2018.
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Frequently asked questions
Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player who has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He started playing basketball at the age of seven and has been named to the NBA All-Star team multiple times.
Ben Simmons is known for his versatility, being able to play multiple positions on the court. He is praised for both his defensive skills and playmaking ability on offense.
Simmons was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has been selected for the NBA All-Star Game multiple times. He has also led the NBA in steals per game and has been selected for the NBA All-Defensive first team.
Ben Simmons signed a 5-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers worth $177,243,360, which ended in 2023. He then signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2025.
