Ben Simmons had 'all the talent in the world'

• ‍The Ballard of Aussie Benjamin David Simmons‍
• Could 'Ballard of Ben' join Joe Ingles and Rocco Zikarsky?‍
• Ben Simmons faces NBA free agency reality: minimum contract, no guaranteed starting role.

Every 8.6 games Australian point forward Ben Simmons delivered a triple double for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons, 29, remains an unsigned free agent after being bought out by the Brooklyn Nets before the 2025 in-season trade deadline and signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.

In 275 game for the 76ers, who drafted the Melbourne-born star with the first pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons delivered 32 triple doubles between 2017 and 2021, including an astonishing 12 in his rookie year on the way to winning Rookie of the Year.

"I mean, he had all the talent in the world,’’ First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer and NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki told Australian newspaper Sunday Herald Sun last week.

“Not quite sure all the stuff that happened there in Philly but it was disappointing.

“He was like the rising star there for a long, long time. So we’ll see what happens.

"It’s still early. Sometimes things get picked up later. You just got to stay ready, stay working out.

“There’s still a bunch of free agents out there that I thought had a chance to be in the league.

"But there’s just unfortunately only so many spots in our league … hopefully Ben can find a way back in.’’

In Philadelphia, Simmons was a three-time NBA All-Star (2019–2021); All-NBA Third Team (2020); two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (2020, 2021); NBA Rookie of the Year (2018); NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018); and NBA steals leader (2020).

Simmons has earned more than AUD $310M (USD $203M) in his nine-year career.

But it was June 20, 2021 that can be pinpointed as a turning point in his career.

With 3:31 left in the fourth, the 76ers down a bucket, Simmons turned baseline but instead of the 6'10", 109kg, point-forward hammering the ball home over the top of 6'1", 74kg Hawks point guard Trae Young he passed to fellow Australian Matisse Thybulle. Thybulle was fouled on his dunk attempt and made just 1-of-2.

Simmons took only four shots in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals at home against the Atlanta Hawks and, sinfully in the eyes of 76ers fans, didn't finish with authority on a wide open dunk late in the game that could have sparked a game-winning Sixers run.

He finished Game 7 with 5-8-13 in the 103-96 loss. It capped off a difficult post season for the pass-first Australian.

All-Star centre Joel Embiid and 76ers teammates was less than helpful in the post game press conference.

"I'll be honest. I thought the turning point was when we, I don’t know how to say it, is when we had an open shot and we made one free throw," Embiid said.

Since then, Simmons was a hold out the 76ers, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, spend large swathes of time on the bench injured or working through his mental health.

His former head coach Steve Nash said: "I’m sure he doesn’t want it to end (here). I don’t think it’s over. He’s an incredible talent. I know his back injury had an impact on him, so it’s tough to see him go.

“Maybe he’ll get a team … the hope is he finds a chance.’’

Former Brooklyn Nets teammate Blake Griffin was equally supportive of Simmons.

"His talent speaks for itself, right?

"I mean, he did what he did in the first part of his career, it was pretty unbelievable.

“So I think he’ll find his way back and find that right fit.

“You know, sometimes everybody needs to step away for a second.’’

A potential landing spot for Simmons has yet to reveal itself but as Nowitzki said, he'll need to stay ready.

Read the full story at the Sunday Herald Sun.