Category: Finance | Title: Who Is Ben Simmons Playing For in the NBA | Tag: NBA | Meta Description: Ben Simmons current team, contract, salary, and career stats explained with latest public data...
Ben Simmons Current Team and Contract Status
Ben Simmons is currently on the Brooklyn Nets roster after being traded from the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team deal completed on June 24, 2022, with the Nets also sending Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and draft picks to the 76ers while sending James Harden and Paul Millsap to the Clippers. He signed a five-year, 170 million dollar maximum rookie contract extension with the 76ers in July 2017, which runs through the 2025-26 season and includes a player option for the final year, and his current salary for the 2024-25 season is 33 million dollars, according to the NBA salary cap data. Simmons has been a restricted free agent multiple times during his career, and his most recent contract extension was structured with a 30 percent annual raise built into each year, which has placed him among the highest-paid guards in the league based on total guaranteed money and cap hit.
As of the latest public reports, Simmons remains under contract with the Nets and is not expected to be traded again before the summer of 2026, when his player option can be exercised or declined. His current deal is fully guaranteed through the 2024-25 season, with partial guarantees extending into the final two years, and the Nets have indicated that he is part of their long-term rotation plan despite his defensive limitations and shooting struggles. The Brooklyn Nets are owned by Joe Tsai, with the franchise valued at approximately 4.6 billion dollars as of the latest Forbes NBA team valuations, and Simmons' contract represents a significant portion of the team's salary cap space under the current collective bargaining agreement.
Ben Simmons Career Stats and Performance
Career Averages and Key Metrics
Ben Simmons has averaged 15.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game over his first seven NBA seasons, with his best scoring season coming in 2019-20 when he averaged 16.4 points per game and led the league in assists with 10.0 per contest. His field goal percentage has hovered around 55 percent throughout his career, while his three-point shooting has remained a persistent weakness, with career averages of 30.9 percent from beyond the arc and below 32 percent in four of his seven seasons, according to Basketball Reference data. Simmons has also been one of the most efficient free-throw shooters in the league during his peak years, converting at a rate above 60 percent in his first three seasons before declining in recent years due to foul trouble and defensive assignments.
Defensive Impact and Playmaking
Simmons has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times, in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and he has consistently ranked among the league leaders in steals and defensive rebounding, with his defensive versatility allowing him to guard multiple positions from point guard to small forward. His playmaking ability is a central part of his value, as he regularly leads his team in assists and is capable of initiating offense at a high level, with his assist-to-turnover ratio remaining above 2.0 in several seasons, according to NBA advanced stats. Simmons' combination of size, court vision, and defensive instincts has made him one of the most unique point-of-attack players in the league, even as his offensive limitations have drawn criticism from analysts and fans alike.
Ben Simmons Trade Rumors and Team Fit
Trade History and Rumors
Simmons was the subject of intense trade speculation during the 2021 offseason and the 2021-22 season, with the 76ers ultimately trading him to the Nets in a blockbuster deal after Simmons refused to play in the 2