Free agent guard Ben Simmons has been in the headlines again this offseason amid uncertainty regarding his future. The last few weeks, in particular, have brought significant turbulence in Simmons’ professional life.
After failing to finalize a deal with the New York Knicks, supposedly ghosting them, the former All-Star was dropped as a client by his agent, Bernie Lee. Amid this, other rumors were suggesting that the guard would be considering retirement, too.
In a recent Instagram post, Simmons was asked by an NBA fan whether he had retired. The three-time All-Star shared a simple one-word response to the comment: “No.”
Although Simmons’ comment is a clear indication of his desire to keep playing professionally, the resultant response from NBA fans on social media has been far from supportive.
With several fans taking the opportunity to roast the former Clippers guard, here are some of their comments from X.
“The NBA might not give him a choice…” said one user, addressing the notion of Simmons’ retirement.
“What do I do with this information?” added another.
“What a tragic day for basketball,” commented another user.
One fan joked by referring to a popular meme and said, “Did they hit them with the ‘you sure about that?'”
Meanwhile, another acknowledged the current interest teams are showing in Simmons and stated, “Is there any team that wants him?”
“He should consider retiring fr,” shared another user, gauging the limited interest teams have shown in him.
One user sarcastically commented, “Omg what would the NBA do without him.”
“Does he know this isn’t a unilateral decision?” asked one fan.
“Not retiring, just turning down contracts,” added another, shedding light on Simmons’ decision-making process.
“Guangdong Tigers a** boy,” joked another fan.
Although a handful of fans were hopeful to see what Simmons could bring to the table, adding that he still had a lot of basketball left in him, it is evident that the general opinion is against him.
This sentiment stems from his recent track record. Over the last three seasons, Simmons has only appeared in 108 games. In this span, the guard hasn’t necessarily been the most productive player on the floor.
While gifted, the repeated injuries have restricted the 29-year-old’s performance. Given his limitations as a scorer and perimeter threat, Simmons has been reduced to being a primary defender and a playmaker.
Although this approach suits his playing style, too, his inconsistency makes him a risky investment for any team.
The Knicks were among the few teams showing a genuine interest in signing him. Given that he could still be a contributor in some capacity, his demand for a contract worth more than the veteran’s minimum could see him go unsigned to start the 2025-26 season.
