Ben Simmons is steering his competitive fire into open water. I can confirm the three time NBA All Star and former No. 1 pick has invested in a professional fishing team, and he is pausing any immediate return to the NBA. The door is not closed on basketball, but the timeline shifts today.
The Move
Simmons has formalized his stake and will be active with the operation. This is not a vanity play. It is a hands on role tied to a team that competes on a real circuit, with schedules, crews, and sponsors. He is shifting his calendar to the water, not the hardwood, at least for now.
The decision follows years of stops and starts on the court. His talent has never been in doubt. He made All Defensive teams, ran point at 6 foot 10, and bent games with pace and strength. Back issues and fits with rosters slowed him in recent seasons. This pivot gives him control of his daily work and his next chapter. [IMAGE_1]
This is not a retirement. Simmons is leaving open a future NBA return when the timing and fit are right.
Why Fishing Makes Sense
Look past the headlines. Elite fishing is a professional sport with deep systems. There are captains, scouts, data, and travel. It rewards preparation, pattern reading, and calm decision making under pressure. Those traits built Simmons’ basketball profile. They can carry on water.
This move also diversifies his brand. Many top athletes invest in teams and leagues. Fishing sits in a space that blends sport, lifestyle, and content. That is a clean lane for a player who has always been more than a box score. It connects to wellness, outdoors culture, and long form competition.
- Competitive outlet with clear goals
- Business upside tied to events and media
- A leadership role that uses his experience
- A schedule he can control while rehabbing and training
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What It Means For His NBA Path
This changes the near term picture. Teams planning for midseason help will need to look elsewhere. Simmons is not rushing back for a quick plug and play deal. He will not chase a short term bounce. The focus is stability, health, and a clear role.
From a club standpoint, the calculus is simple. The best version of Simmons lifts a defense to a top tier level. He runs, he switches, he creates easy points in transition. The less than healthy version does not. A pause now improves the odds that his next basketball step is solid, not shaky.
The Basketball Fit, Reimagined
When he does revisit the league, the model is clear. Surround him with shooters. Give him pace and length. Let him defend 1 through 5 in closing lineups. Make the reads simple. He was All NBA with that formula. He can be a winning piece again if his body cooperates.
There is also psychology at play. Fishing offers a different rhythm. Mornings on the water, long days, quiet focus. That can reset an athlete who has lived in a spotlight since his teens. It is hard to overstate how important that can be.
Pro fishing is a year round grind. Early launches, travel, and technical prep. This is real work, not a hobby.
Athlete Reinvention, In Real Time
Simmons is turning a career pause into a professional pivot. It is a case study in athlete agency. Do not wait for luck. Build a lane where your strengths matter. Own the platform. Choose the terms of your return.
For fans, this is surprising. For people inside sport, it tracks. The modern athlete is both a competitor and an operator. The best ones protect their body, expand their portfolio, and keep options open. That is what this is.
There is risk. Basketball years are precious. A wrong turn can close a window. Simmons knows that better than most. He is betting that patience, health, and purpose will win out. He is also betting that competition, in any arena, sharpens the edge.
The Bottom Line
Ben Simmons is not drifting. He is choosing. Today, that choice plants him on a boat, not a bench. He invests, he competes, he resets. If the NBA chapter resumes, it will be on his clock and in his best form. Until then, the fish get the game plan. The league waits for the next cast. 🏀🎣
