Ben Simmons has found a new team-but this one doesn’t run plays or shoot threes. It runs on saltwater, horsepower, and the thrill of the open ocean.
The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft is diving into a new chapter as the controlling owner of the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a professional fishing team in the Sports Fishing Championship (SFC). The league confirmed the news on Tuesday, marking a unique pivot for the 29-year-old point guard, who remains unsigned this NBA season.
For Simmons, this isn’t just a business move-it’s personal. Fishing has long been a passion for the Melbourne-born, Newcastle-raised athlete.
He’s been casting lines since childhood, and over the years, that love for the water has only grown deeper. Simmons has even shared his deep-sea fishing adventures on YouTube, including videos from 2020 and 2024 where he reeled in some serious catches alongside close friends.
Now, he’s taking that passion to the next level. Simmons is stepping into a leadership role with the South Florida Sails, one of 16 pro angling clubs competing in the SFC’s nationwide tournament circuit.
The league, founded in 2021, features elite offshore saltwater fishing teams from across the U.S.-from Texas to Massachusetts. It’s a growing sport with a loyal community, and Simmons is now helping shape its future.
“I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward,” Simmons said in a statement released by the league. “Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is.”
The Sails were previously operated by the league itself, but earlier this year, SFC commissioner Mark Neifeld opened the club to competitive bidding as part of an expansion initiative. Simmons, along with four other business partners, stepped in to take the reins.
“Ben Simmons is a wonderful addition to SFC’s club ownership group,” Neifeld said. “What unites all of our owners is a genuine love for fishing; they are all members of this same diverse community of watermen and women who want to share this sport with the world.”
Simmons joins a growing list of athletes and entertainers investing in the SFC, including PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler, NASCAR’s Austin Dillon, NFL running back Raheem Mostert, LIV Golf’s Talor Gooch, and country music artist Brian Kelley. It’s a sign that this isn’t just a hobby-it’s a movement, and Simmons is helping lead the charge.
This move also reflects a broader evolution in Simmons’ identity. After a career that’s seen its share of highs and lows-from winning Rookie of the Year in 2018 to earning All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team honors in 2020-Simmons has battled injuries and bounced between teams. He was waived by the Brooklyn Nets in February and had a short stint with the Clippers, averaging 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists over 18 games.
Now, with no current NBA contract, Simmons is finding peace in a different kind of competition.
“Fishing is my happiness; it’s my peace,” Simmons said in a February 2025 interview. “That’s my little thing to do when I’m away from the court.”
He recalled fishing off the rocks as a kid, catching little more than small fish but falling in love with the patience and technique the sport demands. “There was just something about the patience, the technique, knowing how to rig a reel or line, knowing the different hooks and what they’re used for, that was just interesting to me,” he said.
“And from there on out, every summer, I would get a house in Miami, on the water. Eventually, I got a boat.”
He’s also built a brand around that passion, founding Reel One Fishing Club, an apparel company that blends his love for fishing with lifestyle fashion.
While Simmons hasn’t closed the door on basketball-telling Andscape he hopes to return to the NBA either later this season or next-he’s clearly found something that grounds him.
“When I get on the boat,” he said, “I feel like a whole different person comes out.”
Whether it’s on hardwood or open water, Simmons is still chasing something-only now, it’s not just wins and stats. It’s purpose. And right now, that purpose is anchored in the deep.