Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. A uniquely tall and versatile playmaker who stands 6 feet 10 inches yet handles the ball and passes like a guard, he was the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, won Rookie of the Year, and earned three All-Star selections and elite defensive honours early in his career. After his career was disrupted by well-documented struggles and a series of injuries, he sat out an entire season before signing with the Kings in 2026 to launch a comeback. He remains one of the most distinctive talents of his generation.
Ben Simmons Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Benjamin David Simmons |
| Date of Birth | 20 July 1996 |
| Age (2026) | 30 years |
| Birthplace | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Position | Point guard / power forward |
| Current Team | Sacramento Kings |
| NBA Draft | 2016, first round, first overall |
| College | LSU |
Ben Simmons Details
| Area | Detail |
| Draft | The first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft |
| Rookie honour | Won the NBA Rookie of the Year for 2017-18 |
| All-Star | A three-time NBA All-Star |
| Defence | A two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection |
| Teams | The 76ers, Nets and Clippers before the Kings |
| 2026 | Signed with the Kings to launch a comeback |
Ben Simmons Events
| Year | Event |
| 20 July 1996 | Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| 2015 to 2016 | Played one season of college basketball at LSU |
| 2016 | Drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2018 | Named NBA Rookie of the Year |
| 2022 | Traded to the Brooklyn Nets |
| 2025 | Finished the season with the LA Clippers |
| 2026 | Signed a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings |
Ben Simmons Early Life and College
Ben Simmons was born Benjamin David Simmons on 20 July 1996 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, into a basketball family, as his father had played professionally in Australia. He grew up excelling at the sport and moved to the United States for high school, attending Montverde Academy in Florida, where he became one of the top prospects in the country. He then played a single season of college basketball at Louisiana State University, where his outstanding all-around play confirmed his status as the presumptive first pick in the NBA Draft.
Ben Simmons NBA Career
Ben Simmons with the Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, though he missed his first professional season with a foot injury. When he debuted, he lived up to the considerable hype, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award for the 2017-18 season and quickly establishing himself as a star. Over the following seasons he was selected as an All-Star three times and named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice, emerging as one of the league’s premier young two-way players, renowned for his passing, defence and transition play, even as questions about his outside shooting persisted.
Ben Simmons’s Move to Brooklyn and the Clippers
Ben Simmons’s time in Philadelphia ended amid a difficult period following the 2021 playoffs, and after a holdout he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in early 2022, in a deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia. His years with the Nets were significantly hampered by back injuries and surgery, which limited his availability and his effectiveness. Following a buyout in early 2025, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers for the remainder of that season, again playing limited minutes as he continued to manage his physical issues.
Ben Simmons’s Comeback with the Kings
Ben Simmons sat out the entire 2025-26 NBA season in order to rehabilitate lingering back and leg injuries, and there was speculation about whether he would return to the sport at all. Declaring himself healthy again, he worked out for teams and, in September 2026, agreed to a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings, launching his return to the NBA for his tenth season. The move gave him an opportunity to re-establish himself with a team in need of playmaking, as he sought to revive his career. As his situation is developing, the profile presents him as an active player.
Ben Simmons’s Playing Style
Ben Simmons is known as one of the most unusual and versatile players in the NBA, a genuine point guard in the body of a big man. Standing 6 feet 10 inches, he combines exceptional court vision and passing, elite open-court speed, and outstanding defensive ability, capable of guarding all five positions at his best. His playmaking and defence are his greatest strengths, while a reluctance and inconsistency as an outside shooter has been the most-discussed limitation of an otherwise rare and dynamic skill set.
Ben Simmons Personal Life
Ben Simmons comes from a sporting family in Melbourne and has remained proud of his Australian roots throughout his career. He has expressed a strong desire to represent Australia’s national team, the Boomers, and has set his sights on competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. A high-profile figure both on and off the court, he has at times drawn media attention for his personal life, but he has generally focused his public identity on his basketball career and his efforts to overcome the challenges he has faced.
Ben Simmons Height and Physical Profile
Ben Simmons stands 6 feet 10 inches, or 2.08 metres, tall and weighs around 240 pounds, or 109 kilograms, an exceptional combination of size, strength and agility for a primary ball-handler. His physical profile is central to his unique identity as a player, enabling him to see over defences, defend multiple positions and dominate in transition, though managing his physical health has been a defining challenge in the later part of his career.
Ben Simmons Net Worth and Earnings
Ben Simmons earned substantial wealth over his career, having signed a maximum contract extension earlier in his time in the NBA that made him one of the league’s higher-paid players for several years, before agreeing to a one-year deal reported to be worth around 3.5 million US dollars with the Kings in 2026. A precise personal net-worth figure is not reliably documented, so this profile does not assert one, though his career earnings from his NBA contracts indicate very significant income.
| Source | Detail |
| 2026 contract | A reported one-year deal worth about 3.5 million dollars |
| Career earnings | Substantial, from his prior maximum NBA contract |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented (treat estimates with caution) |
Ben Simmons Social Media
Ben Simmons maintains an active and popular presence on social media, where he shares his basketball career, his comeback and aspects of his life with a large following of fans.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| @bensimmons | Career and personal content | |
| Public information | The NBA and basketball media | How news about him is reported |
Ben Simmons Controversies and Debates
Ben Simmons and His Philadelphia Departure
Ben Simmons was at the centre of one of the more prominent sagas in recent NBA history when his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers ended acrimoniously. Following a difficult 2021 playoff series and questions about his shooting and confidence, he held out from the team before being traded, a period that involved public disputes over his situation, including matters concerning his mental health and readiness to play. The profile notes this factually as a well-documented episode of his career, and treats the personal and health aspects with restraint.
Ben Simmons as a Debated Player
Ben Simmons has been a frequently debated figure, praised for his elite passing and defence while criticised over his outside shooting and the disruptions to his career. These reflect ordinary sporting debate about his game and his career trajectory rather than any established wrongdoing, and differing views on him form part of the normal basketball conversation.
Lesser Known Facts About Ben Simmons
- His full name is Benjamin David Simmons.
- He was born in Melbourne, Australia, into a basketball family.
- He attended Montverde Academy in Florida for high school.
- He was the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
- He missed his first NBA season with a foot injury.
- He won Rookie of the Year for the 2017-18 season.
- He aims to represent Australia at the 2028 Olympics.
Ben Simmons FAQ
Who is Ben Simmons?
He is an Australian professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings, a former No. 1 overall pick and three-time NBA All-Star.
How old is Ben Simmons?
Born on 20 July 1996, he is 30 years old in 2026.
What team does Ben Simmons play for?
He signed with the Sacramento Kings in September 2026, making his return to the NBA after sitting out the previous season.
What is Ben Simmons known for?
He is known as a uniquely tall, versatile playmaker with elite passing and defence, and for his early success as Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star.
Where did Ben Simmons play college basketball?
He played one season at Louisiana State University before entering the NBA Draft.
When was Ben Simmons drafted?
He was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft.
What teams has Ben Simmons played for?
He has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Brooklyn Nets, the LA Clippers, and now the Sacramento Kings.
Where is Ben Simmons from?
He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
How tall is Ben Simmons?
He stands 6 feet 10 inches, or 2.08 metres, tall.
Why did Ben Simmons sit out a season?
He missed the 2025-26 season to rehabilitate lingering back and leg injuries before returning in 2026.
Sources
ESPN, Ben Simmons returning to NBA on 1-year, $3.5M deal with Kings,
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49824980/sources-ben-simmons-agrees-1-year-35m-deal-kings
NBC New York, Former NBA All-Star and No. 1 pick Ben Simmons agrees to one-year deal with Kings,
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/nba/ben-simmons-free-agent-contract-2/6544013/
Hoops Rumors, Free Agent Notes: Simmons, Watson, Schwartz, Ntilikina, Brown,
https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/free-agent-notes-simmons-watson-schwartz-ntilikina-brown.html
Basketball Reference, Ben Simmons,
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/simmobe01.html