Ben Simmons joins Australian national team, edges closer to NBA return
Ben Simmons, 30, who missed last season due to injuries, is preparing to return both to the NBA and to Australia's national team, with several clubs already showing interest.
Basketball player Ben Simmons, whose career has been plagued for years by health issues, particularly back injuries, appears to have finally recovered and is preparing for a comeback to professional basketball.
The 30-year-old last played in the NBA in 2025 with the Los Angeles Clippers. He sat out the entire following season while treating and recovering from his injuries. Simmons has already hinted on social media that he wants to return to play, and several NBA teams have taken notice. According to reports, one Western Conference team has already offered him a non-guaranteed contract.
A return to the national team as well
David Patrick, an assistant coach with Australia's national team, spoke positively about Simmons' physical condition, noting that the player has largely regained his usual athleticism. Simmons reportedly hopes not only to resume his NBA career but also to return to the Australian national team, aiming to represent the country at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Notably, Simmons has played only twice for Australia so far — back in 2013, when he was 17 years old and had not yet begun his career in the United States.
A promising start interrupted by injuries
Simmons began his NBA career in 2016 as the first overall draft pick, joining the Philadelphia 76ers. He missed his first season due to injury but won the league's Rookie of the Year award the following year. He later became one of the team's stars, but recurring injuries several years later caused him to fall out of the league entirely for a time.
