Ben Simmons is trying to write one more chapter in his NBA story, and the target is the 2026-27 season.
That would mark a long road back for the former No. 1 overall pick, who entered the league in the 2016 NBA Draft with huge expectations after being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. Early on, he lived up to plenty of the hype, stacking up All-Star selections and drawing LeBron James comparisons because of his size and ball-handling ability.
Then the slide came. Simmons’ game was derailed by inconsistent play on the biggest stages, an unwillingness to shoot, and a string of injuries.
The source of that unraveling is often tied to the moment he passed up an easy layup at the rim with only Trae Young defending him. After that, the injuries piled up, including nerve damage in his back.
Simmons sat out the entire 2025-26 season to recover and reset after spending the previous year with the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, according to Andscape’s Marc J.
Spears, he has been working to get himself back into NBA shape and wants to be a full participant in the Australia national basketball team’s training camp this week. Spears also reported that Simmons paid his way into the camp and is fully healthy.
The appeal is still obvious if Simmons can stay on the floor. At 6-foot-10, he remains a rare kind of playmaker, one who can see over most defenders and create for others in a way that still stands out. His versatility on defense and his passing ability give him a skill set that could interest teams across the league.
A return won’t be simple. Simmons has been out of sight long enough that most of the NBA has moved on. Still, if the health is real and the burst is there, he could at least make himself an option for all 30 teams.
The 76ers would likely be the destination that makes the most sense for him, but they would also want certainty before making any move, especially with LeBron leading the charge.
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For Philadelphia, the idea carries obvious baggage and just as much curiosity. Simmons remains tied to one of the franchises most polarizing chapters, and while there is no official word on where a comeback might take him, the 76ers have already re-entered the speculation as a possible landing spot. For now, it is only a rumor with enough history behind it to make fans pay attention. [Read more 🡒]