The LA Clippers have signed Ben Simmons, giving the former number one overall pick a second chance to revitalize his career.
Simmons made his debut with the Clippers against the Utah Jazz on Thursday. He provided 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes off the bench. He also added 3 steals and a block on the defensive side.
Los Angeles will be Simmons’ third stop in his nine-year NBA career.
The 6-foot-10 point guard was a three-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers, who drafted him back in 2016.
Simmons sat out for the entirety of the 2016-17 season due to a broken foot. He would bounce back and win the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
With Simmons at the helm, along with All-Star center Joel Embiid by his side, the 76ers seemed to solidify themselves as a contender in the Eastern Conference for years to come. Or so everybody thought.
A turning point in Simmons’ career came in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. He passed on a wide open dunk in the final minutes of a crucial game 7, which the 76ers lost. This blunder came with criticism from the media and tension arose between himself and the 76ers organization.
Simmons refused to play for the 76ers in the 2021-22 season and Philadelphia traded him to the Brooklyn Nets later that year. He would not make his debut for the Nets until the 2022-23 season, where his play notably declined as he would average 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 42 games.
Simmons’ injury-riddled and underwhelming stint in Brooklyn did not go as planned and both sides decided to move on in February of 2025, as Brooklyn bought out Simmons’ contract. Simmons landed in Los Angeles with the Clippers, who are currently fighting to maintain their playoff spot in the Western Conference.
While it is unrealistic to expect Simmons to return to an All-Star level with the Clippers, he still has the ability to contribute meaningful minutes to this team on both sides of the ball, as shown by his debut.
The Clippers currently rank 25th in assists, with just 24.7 per game. Adding Simmons to the roster gives coach Tyronn Lue an additional playmaker alongside James Harden. Simmons will be able to generate open looks for Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell on the wings and Ivica Zubac in the paint.
With his size, Simmons has the versatility to guard all five positions. This only bolsters the Clippers’ defense, who already have the second best defensive rating in the league at 108.3. Simmons also adds to the Clippers’ rebounding, which is ranked 16th at 44.3 per game.
Shooting has been a weakness in Simmons’ offensive game throughout his career. In his nine years in the NBA, he has only made five 3-pointers. Though he has shot only 59.2 percent from the free throw line for his career, he has shown improvement in that area this season, as he is currently shooting 73.3 percent from the stripe.
Many laughed at the idea of the Clippers signing Simmons, but it can be a move that benefits both sides.
Simmons is sure to make the most out of his second chance.
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