Ben Simmons recently made it clear on his personal Instagram that he has no intention of ending his career. When asked if he might choose to retire, Simmons replied briefly in the comment section: "No."

The 2025/26 NBA regular season is set to begin next month, but Simmons has yet to sign with a team. Earlier this month, New York Post reporter Stephen Bondy revealed Simmons was hesitant about continuing his NBA career. He was subsequently reported by veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein to have ended his relationship with agent Bernie Lee, a move that raised concerns about his career.

As one of the most highly-anticipated unrestricted free agents currently available, Simmons received interest from numerous teams, including the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, and Sacramento Kings. Marc Stein also noted that the Knicks offered Simmons a one-year minimum contract, which he declined. Given Simmons' desire for a contract above the minimum, his options on the market were limited.

Simmons, 29, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. He has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers in his career. During that time, he played in 383 regular-season games, averaging 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 55.8% from the field and 13.9% from three-point range.

Simmons also played 39 times in the playoffs, averaging 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 56.7%.

Simmons' performance in recent years has been less than ideal due to serious back injuries and psychological barriers. Last season, he played 33 times for the Nets and 18 times for the Clippers, averaging only 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.