The break-up between Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers was one of the messiest in recent memory, one featuring plenty of mud hurling, trade requests, holdouts, and injury ramifications that continue to this day.
Simmons eventually left the City of Brotherly Love, headed for Brooklyn as the 76ers looked to continue with a core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and James Harden.
But with both sides failing to rediscover the success that they had together, the former number one overall pick has begun to consider a reunion with his original team.
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Simmons considers shock Philadelphia reunion
They say that time heals all wounds, and four years on from his unceremonious exit from Philadelphia, it appears Ben Simmons is interested in a return to Pennsylvania.
According to ESPN insider Ramona Shelburne, Simmons is open to a return to his former team, and has even reached out to ex-All-Star running mate Joel Embiid in an effort to mend their fractured relationship.
“So much has gone wrong for Simmons and his former team in the years they’ve been apart that Simmons’ presence back in Philadelphia barely registered this time,” Shelburne wrote of the Australian’s latest return to the Wells Fargo Center.
“He’d even reached out to Embiid and others last summer, league sources said, hoping to mend fences.
“Could they ever try to figure it out together again? One source called it unlikely, but stranger things have happened.”
Simmons’ career began in an impressive way in Philadelphia; drafted first overall, he won Rookie of the Year, was named to three All-Star teams, two All-Defensive teams, was All-NBA Third Team in 2020, the same year he lead the league in steals and was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year behind Rudy Gobert.
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But since the infamous blown layup against Atlanta during the 2021 playoffs, he has struggled to return to the elite form of his beginnings.
He missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a hold-out from a trade request, as well as an ongoing back injury, and played 42 games in his first year in Brooklyn, and just 15 last season.
This season he has played 13 of the Nets’ 18 games so far, a promising sign, but his numbers are far below those of his award-winning years, as Brooklyn struggle to find consistent success.
Could a reunion with Embiid and Philadelphia – who have started their season a horrific 3-13 – revitalise the Australian?
Ben Simmons 2024-25 season stats
- 5.3 points per game
- 5.7 rebounds per game
- 6.5 assists per game
- 0.8 steals per game
- 0.6 blocks per game
- 55%FG
- 75%FT