Simmons' wings 'Clipped' after signing with LA

• Ben Simmons was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers
• Simmons averaged 5.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 5.6 APG in 22 minutes
• Simmons is an unrestricted free agent in 2025

Australian point-forward Ben Simmons completed another chapter in his evolving NBA career in a season that showcased both persistent challenges and glimpses of his former All-Star self.

The 208cm playmaker, once the first overall draft pick in 2016, spent the 2024-25 campaign split between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, embracing a significantly different role than the one that has earned him three NBA All-Star selections. He signed with the Clippers after a contract buy-out by the Brooklyn Nets.

Key Details

Name: Ben Simmons
Age: 28
Team(s): Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets (2022-2025), Philadelphia 76ers (2016-2022)
Position: Point guard / Power forward
Size: 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Weight: 240 lb (109 kg)
Contract: Unrestricted free agent

A Tale of Two Teams

Simmons began the season with the Brooklyn Nets, where he started 19 of his 30 appearances before a mid-season buy-out led him to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers alongside Australian Boomers superstar Patty Mills.

The move marked another significant transition for the Melbourne native, who has now played for three franchises since entering the league.

With Brooklyn, Simmons showed occasional flashes of the all-around brilliance that once made him one of the league's most unique talents. His best performance came on December 4 against the Indiana Pacers, where he stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and three blocks in just under 21 minutes off the bench. His performance rating of 23.0 that night was his highest of the season.

Another standout game came on November 27 against the Phoenix Suns, when Simmons was remarkably efficient, scoring 14 points on 7-from-8 shooting while adding nine rebounds and eight assists in a starter's role.

The Clipper Chapter

After signing with the Clippers in early 2025, Simmons settled into a consistent but limited bench role. His minutes decreased significantly, averaging just over 17 minutes per game with Los Angeles compared to approximately 25 minutes during his time with Brooklyn.

The reduction in playing time corresponded with a more specialised role. Rather than being asked to contribute across multiple statistical categories, the Clippers utilised Simmons primarily as a defensive specialist and facilitator in short bursts, limiting his offensive responsibilities.

His most impressive performance with the Clippers came on February 13 against the Utah Jazz, when he recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block in 27 minutes. This game demonstrated that when given extended minutes, Simmons could still impact multiple facets of the game.

Statistical Overview

For the season, Simmons appeared in 51 games (19 starts), averaging:

• 5.0 points per game
• 4.7 rebounds per game
• 5.6 assists per game
• 0.7 steals per game
• 0.5 blocks per game
• 52.0% field goal percentage
• 72.7% free throw shooting (24-from-33)
• 21.9 minutes per game

Perhaps most telling is Simmons' shot selection — or lack thereof. Throughout the entire season, he attempted zero three-point shots, continuing his well-documented reluctance to expand his shooting range. His offensive game remained confined to the paint, with 223 total field goal attempts in 51 games (just 4.4 shots per game).

Evolution of a Role Player

The transformation of Simmons from franchise cornerstone to specialised role player represents one of the more unique career trajectories in recent NBA history. At 28 years old, the forward has adapted to a dramatically different role than the one envisioned when he was selected first overall by Philadelphia.

His season was defined by efficiency in limited opportunities. When Simmons did look to score, he was remarkably effective, shooting 52.0% from the field. However, his low usage rate and minimal scoring production reflect both his hesitancy to hunt for his own shot and the reduced offensive responsibilities assigned by his coaches.

The 2024-25 season also showed improvement in an area that had previously been a significant weakness — free throw shooting. Though the sample size was small (just 33 attempts all season), Simmons converted at a 72.7% clip, considerably better than his career average.

Inconsistent Playing Time

One of the most prominent aspects of Simmons' season was the inconsistency in his minutes allocation. With both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, his playing time fluctuated significantly from game to game. This irregular rotation pattern may have contributed to his uneven production.

With the Clippers, Simmons' minutes ranged from as few as 10:37 against the Warriors on April 13 to as many as 27:02 versus the Jazz on February 13. The inconsistent role might explain why Simmons' production varied so dramatically from game to game.

Playmaking Remains a Strength

Despite the reduced role, Simmons continued to showcase his elite court vision and passing ability. He recorded eight or more assists in 11 games during the season, highlighting that his playmaking remains his most valuable skill.

His assist-to-turnover ratio, however, reflected some of the decision-making issues that have plagued him throughout his career. Simmons committed 102 turnovers against 285 assists — a ratio that, while positive, falls short of elite point guard standards.

Defensive Contributions

Though his defensive metrics don't fully capture his impact, Simmons remained an effective defender when engaged. His combination of size, strength, and lateral quickness allowed him to guard multiple positions effectively. His 38 steals and 23 blocks on the season only partially reflect his defensive contributions.

Particularly with the Clippers, Simmons was often deployed as a defensive specialist, tasked with disrupting opposing offenses during critical stretches. His ability to switch across multiple positions provided valuable versatility to the Clippers' defensive schemes.

The Scoring Reluctance

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Simmons' statistical profile is his hesitancy to score. He recorded seven games in which he failed to score a single point despite playing significant minutes. In 18 games — more than a third of his appearances — he scored two or fewer points.

This scoring reluctance has become the defining narrative of Simmons' career. Once projected as a transformative talent in the mould of LeBron James, his inability or unwillingness to develop as a scorer has dramatically altered his career trajectory.

Looking Forward

As Simmons approaches the final year of his current contract, questions about his long-term role and value continue to linger. The former number one pick will turn 29 in July — typically considered the prime years for NBA players — yet his production has trended in the opposite direction of what would be expected from a player entering his athletic peak.

For the Clippers, Simmons represents a low-risk investment with potential upside. If he can embrace his role as a defensive specialist and secondary playmaker while occasionally providing efficient scoring in the paint, he could become a valuable rotation piece for a team with championship aspirations.

Adapting to New Realities

What makes Simmons' case particularly compelling is the dramatic shift in his basketball identity. The player who once commanded maximum contract consideration as a franchise cornerstone has had to reinvent himself as a complementary piece.

With the Clippers, he found himself playing alongside established stars such as Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Rather than leading the offense, he was asked to complement these primary options, leveraging his passing ability and defensive versatility in more limited minutes.

This adaptation requires significant mental adjustment — accepting a reduced role after being celebrated as one of the league's most promising young talents. The psychological aspects of such a transition are as challenging as the physical ones.

A Unique Statistical Profile

The statistical anomalies in Simmons' profile make him one of the league's most distinctive players. Few rotation players in NBA history have displayed such reluctance to shoot from outside the paint. His complete avoidance of three-point attempts (zero in 51 games) represents an extreme outlier in the modern NBA, where positional versatility and spacing are highly valued.

What makes this even more unusual is that Simmons was once considered a potentially revolutionary player — a point guard with the size of a power forward who could defend all five positions. Instead, his career has evolved in the opposite direction, with his offensive limitations becoming more pronounced rather than less.

The 2024-25 season represented yet another transitional year in Ben Simmons' NBA journey. After beginning the campaign with Brooklyn and finishing it with the Clippers, the Australian showed that he can still contribute as a role player despite the significant limitations in his offensive game.

For a player once projected as a generational talent, the current iteration of Simmons might seem disappointing. However, his willingness to adapt to a reduced role and contribute in areas outside of scoring demonstrates both professional maturity and self-awareness.

As Simmons faces free agency, the basketball world will be watching to see if this is the new normal for the former first overall pick, or if there remains untapped potential that could lead to yet another chapter in his unique NBA story. It just depends who he signs with, for how much and whether Simmons can return to his peak Philadelphia 76ers powers.