When Ben Simmons entered the NBA in 2016 as the No. 1 overall pick, the hype was off the charts. A 6’10” point guard with elite defensive chops and the athleticism to push the pace? The Philadelphia 76ers looked like they had found the next face of the league.
Fast forward to 2025, and the story couldn’t be more different. Simmons is struggling to find a team willing to take a chance on him, and there are even whispers that retirement might be his only option. One former All-Star who agrees? Jeff Teague.
The Fall From Potential Superstar to Question Mark
Simmons once drew comparisons to LeBron James, with scouts projecting him as the NBA’s next do-it-all superstar. Early in his career, it wasn’t crazy to believe — he made three All-Star teams, anchored elite defenses, and thrived in transition.
But injuries, especially chronic back problems, have stripped away his athleticism. Instead of flying up the court, Simmons now struggles with movement. That decline showed during stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, and his career has been in limbo since.
The only team recently linked to Simmons is the New York Knicks, but even that rumor feels shaky.
Teague Thinks It’s Over
On his Club 520 podcast, Teague didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts:
“I can see him retire. He’s done, though. Y’all see him when he was playing, he can’t move anymore. He runs like people on 2K, bro.”
Teague compared Simmons’ stiff movements to a video game character with a broken animation style, saying his back clearly limits him.
“What made him effective was pushing the ball and being dynamic in transition, and he can’t do that anymore… or nobody believes he can.”
Can Simmons Carve Out a Role?
At just 29, Simmons should be in his prime. But instead of chasing superstardom, he’s now fighting to prove he can even stay in the league.
One possible path? Reinventing himself as a defensive specialist who plays a smaller role, focusing on shutting down opponents instead of running an offense. The question is whether his body will let him — and whether teams are willing to give him that shot.
If not, Teague’s blunt assessment may turn out to be the reality: Simmons could go down as one of the NBA’s biggest “What if?” stories of the modern era.
