Ben Simmons was destined for greatness after his first few seasons in the NBA. That has not worked out for him because he is struggling to find a team to sign with. There are rumors that he may retire, which former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague agrees with.
When he was selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, people were excited about Ben Simmons. He had a unique profile as a 6’10” point guard who could defend at the highest level possible. Unfortunately, his injuries have caused him to regress to playing as a power forward these days.
Simmons was also an elite athlete who could run up and down the floor with ease. Injuries have ruined his athleticism, especially the issues with his back. That hampered him during his stints with the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers.
He cannot find a team that wants to sign him; only the New York Knicks are reportedly interested. That is a bad development for the former All-Star, as he might retire from the NBA, a sentiment with which former All-Star Jeff Teague agrees.
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty ImagesTeague believes Simmons does not have it anymore
As one of the most gifted players of the past decade, Simmons was seen as the successor to the previous generation’s stars. Some even called Simmons the successor to LeBron James, which is high praise for a player, but it was warranted because of Simmons’ potential.
Of course, that is not the case anymore because Simmons’ stock has fallen to an all-time low. He might even have to retire before James is set to exit the NBA, which would have been surprising to consider a decade ago.
A big name who agrees with the sentiment is Teague, who feels that Simmons’ time in the NBA is over at only 29. That is a sad end to a career, but Teague is being realistic about what Simmons has experienced over the years.
“I can see him retire. He’s done, though. Y’all see him when he was playing, he can’t move anymore. He runs like people on 2K, bro,” Teague said on Club 520.
Jeff Teague believes Ben Simmons should retire
“You got fans over here, we’d love you to come sit down and talk cuz it’s over… he can’t move no more — he running like people on 2K… he legit hurt.”
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“You know, your motion style, if you got Kawhi Leonard-motion style, he runs like his back hurts. He hurt.
“What made him effective was pushing the ball and being dynamic in transition, and he can’t do that anymore, or he can’t do that anymore because nobody believes in him.”
Simmons has limited options to stay in the NBA
An NBA insider reported that Simmons wants to join two specific teams, but it looks like they are not interested in him. That is a red flag for Simmons, as it could spell the end of his career. He has already parted ways with his agent, so his career is on the verge of ending.
Simmons still has a lot to give in the NBA, considering he is still in his 20s. However, he has fallen off from his superstar potential and has become one of the biggest “What if?” stories in modern NBA history.
If Simmons is up for it, he could carve out a place for himself by convincing teams he can play a lesser role as a lockdown defender with limited offensive upside. That will depend on his health, as that has been his biggest issue in recent years.
If he continues to struggle with moving, Teague might be correct with his assessment of Simmons’ long-term fit within the NBA.