The latest twist in the winding career of former NBA first-overall pick Ben Simmons has taking a turn out to sea.
The three-time all-star is putting a potential NBA comeback on hold to try his hand at professional fishing.
Simmons, a defensive standout and all-NBA star, has purchased a controlling share in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a member of the 16-team Sport Fishing Championship.
“The way I see it, it’s like the new F1 (Formula 1) for fishing. The new LIV Golf for fishing,” Simmons told Andscape last week. “The first real competitive sport fishing championship. It’s a league of 16 teams, which is growing and expanding. And so, we’ll go out there and compete in various different tournaments, and there’ll be a champion crowned at the end.
“It’s a very niche sport and if you don’t know, you don’t know. But once you experience it and get out there and see what it’s about, you’re kind of in awe of what the sport is. And that’s just something I’ve always been interested in in terms of the sport of fishing. The technique. There’s so much to it that people just don’t understand.
“These guys are fishing on million-dollar vessels, and they’re out for days at a time. So, it’s tedious and gritty, but a lot of fun. It’s one of those worlds where you just got to kind of experience it, get into it and see what it’s about.”
Simmons finished the 2024-25 NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers, appearing in 18 games after joining the team in February. But instead of angling for a new NBA contract, he has bought into the SFC, which also counts the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Austin Dillon and Raheem Mostert as sports celebrity team owners.
“I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward,” Simmons told the SFC website. “Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is.”
Simmons’ on-court issues
Simmons was selected first-overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, going on to immediate stardom by winning the Rookie of the Year award.
But after making three all-star teams in his first four seasons with Philly, he held out through the entire 2021-22 season due to reported back and mental health issues.
He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022, but only played 90 games over three seasons for the team and struggled mightily when he was on the floor, averaging just 6.5 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game before being bought out in February 2025.
Simmons, who owns a 53-foot Scout centre console boat named “The Real One Fishing Club Boat,” has earned more than US$200 million through his NBA career.
Will he make a comeback?
While pro fishing currently is his priority, Simmons has said that a return to the NBA could still happen this season — likely after the all-star break and only if the right opportunity presents itself.
“I don’t believe it’s just (about) getting on a team,” Simmons said. “So, if I were to play right now, I think I’d fit right into the NBA just given what I can do. But I want to give everything I can to the game. I don’t think there’s any point in just wasting a spot just to be out there. I think that’s a little selfish. And there are guys that do it now. But that’s what it is, the business.
“For me, I’m very blessed to not have to be in that situation where I need to fight right now. But I want to get to the best of my ability and physical peak to compete. Otherwise, it doesn’t really serve me any purpose.”