Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed profile of basketballer Ben Simmons:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Benjamin David Simmons
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Age: Born July 20, 1996
  • Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters)
  • Weight: 240 pounds (109 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Jersey Number: #10 (currently with Brooklyn Nets, previously #25)
  • Position: Point guard / Forward
  • High School:
    • Box Hill Senior Secondary College, Melbourne, Australia
    • Montverde Academy, Montverde, Florida, USA
  • College: Louisiana State University (LSU) (2015–2016)
  • NBA Draft: 2016, Round 1, 1st overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Philadelphia 76ers (2016–2022)
    2. Brooklyn Nets (2022–present)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Children: None publicly known
  • Siblings:
    • Five older siblings: Melissa, Emily, Liam, Sean, and Olivia Simmons

Player Archetype / Play Style

Ben Simmons’s player archetype is a supersized point forward, an archetype built around transition creation, half-court passing, and defensive versatility rather than jump-shot volume. Defensively, he has long fit as a multi-positional stopper who can pressure the ball, switch across matchups, and take on top assignments, which matches both his two All-Defensive First Team selections and the Clippers’ stated plan to use him against the other team’s best players. Offensively, his clearest value comes as a point guard-sized initiator at 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, pushing pace, creating easy looks for teammates, screening when needed, and attacking downhill when space opens up. Physically, he pairs unusual size with speed, fluidity, and body control for a lead handler, giving him the tools to play guard, forward, and even small-ball center in certain lineups. His play style is unselfish, pace-setting, and matchup-driven, with his best stretches coming when he is defending aggressively, advancing the ball quickly, and functioning as a connective playmaker more than a primary scorer. (NBA)

Player Insights

Ben Simmons was the best Australian prospect to enter the NBA (unless you include Kyrie Irving). Simmons was a very good player for the Philadelphia 76ers. Daryl Morey became his GM and publicly stated that he expects Simmons to shoot more outside shots. Simmons never adapted to that request and he was traded to Brooklyn in a package for James Harden. Since then, Simmons has struggled to stay healthy. And fans have assumed it’s because he struggles to shoot from outside. However, I think he has had some genuine health issues and think he can regain some of that old form. The Nets have kept him quiet so far this NBA season, and they’re allowing him to be himself on the court, which includes limiting the shots he takes. Simmons is best as a creator, rebounder, and letting the game come to him. So far so good during the 2024-25 NBA season, but he has been taking numerous days off already for injury management, which isn’t a good sign. If his body holds up, he looked capable of building toward a more stable game rhythm as the season progressed. 11/22/2024

Ben Simmons was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline of the 2024-25 NBA Season. Simmons didn’t look right while playing for Brooklyn in 2024-25. His finishing inconsistency at times suggested he was still not moving with complete confidence physically. Once he signed with the LA Clippers, he said he felt fully healthy for the first time this season. If that improvement is sustainable, he has the tools to re-emerge as a far more impactful player. Still, public comments and short-term flashes alone are not enough to fully judge where he stands. From a fantasy basketball perspective, his all-around stat profile still makes him an intriguing upside gamble. A healthy Ben Simmons can most likely still be very valuable on the court. His pairing with James Harden is an interesting one, as both players play with an unorthodox style. Simmons and Harden also had skill sets that could complement each other, especially as playmakers who can manipulate defensive attention. 2/15/2025

Sources:

NBA.com — Ben Simmons | Guard-Forward | LA Clippers
NBA.com — Ben Simmons ready for new chapter with Clippers: ‘I feel great, ready to go’
NBA.com — Year-by-year NBA All-Defensive Teams
NBA.com — All-time All-NBA Defensive First Team: Philadelphia 76ers
NBA.com — 2016 NBA Draft Profile: Ben Simmons | Los Angeles Lakers