Benjamin David Simmons born July 20, 1996 is an Australian professional basketball player currently playing for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA. He played one season of college basketball with the LSU Tigers, where he earned consensus first-team All-American honors and was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Year. Simmons was selected as the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. After missing his rookie season due to an injured right foot, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has been selected to the NBA All-Star Game three times. Following a holdout after the 2020–21 season, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. Simmons holds the record for the most fines in NBA history due to his financial losses during the holdout.
Ben Simmons Biography 2025
Simmons attended Box Hill Senior Secondary College in Melbourne, Victoria, before relocating to Montverde Academy in Florida to pursue his basketball career in the United States. During his lone college season, LSU had high expectations but failed to make the NCAA Tournament. After this, Simmons declared for the NBA Draft, becoming the third player from Melbourne to be selected first overall in 11 years, following Andrew Bogut and Kyrie Irving. Born to an American father, Dave, who played professional basketball in Australia, Simmons holds dual citizenship in both Australia and the United States. He has also represented the Australian national team in international competitions.
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Ben Simmons Biography Details
Born
20 July 1996 (age 28)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Listed height
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight
240 lb (109 kg)
High school
Box Hill Senior Secondary College
(Melbourne, Victoria)
Montverde Academy
(Montverde, Florida)
College
LSU (2015–2016)
Ben Simmons Early Life
Simmons was born in Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne, to father Dave and mother Julie. His father, an African-American expatriate, played college basketball at Oklahoma City University before turning professional in Australia’s National Basketball League with the Melbourne Tigers in 1989. Simmons was raised with five siblings—Melissa, Emily, Liam, Sean, and Olivia his father’s children from a previous relationship. He spent most of his early childhood in Newcastle, where his father played and coached basketball. Simmons started playing basketball at age seven with the Newcastle Hunters’ under-12 representative team before later joining the Knox Raiders. As a child, he also played rugby and Australian rules football.
Simmons attended Whitefriars College in Melbourne and was named MVP in Year 7, leading his school to a Division 1A basketball championship. As a teenager, he faced a choice between basketball and Australian rules football, ultimately deciding to pursue basketball. In Year 9, at the age of 15, Simmons played for Box Hill Senior Secondary College at the Australian Schools Championships. His talent soon earned him a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in 2012, and he also participated in the prestigious Pangos All-American Camp in the United States. At just 15, he represented Australia at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.
Ben Simmons Career Overview
Year
Achievement
2016-2017
Selected as the 1st overall pick in NBA Draft
2018
NBA Rookie of the Year
2019-2021
NBA All-Star Selections (3 times)
2020
NBA All-Defensive First Team (2nd time)
Early Basketball Career
Period
Details
Early Years
Grew up playing basketball in Australia
2011-2013
Played for Box Hill Senior Secondary College and Montverde Academy
2013-2015
Joined LSU Tigers for college basketball
Ben Simmons College Career
Category
Information
College
LSU (Louisiana State University)
Year
2015-2016
Honors
Consensus First-Team All-American, USBWA National Freshman of the Year
Stat Average
19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 4.8 APG
Professional NBA Career
Team
Years Played
Philadelphia 76ers
2016–2022
Brooklyn Nets
2022–Present
Awards
NBA Rookie of the Year, 3x NBA All-Star
Ben Simmons Performance Statistics
Category
2020-2021 Season
Points per Game
14.3 PPG
Assists per Game
6.9 APG
Rebounds per Game
7.2 RPG
Steals per Game
1.6 SPG
Role in Australian Basketball
Event
Performance/Outcome
FIBA Under-17
Silver Medal (2012)
FIBA Oceania Championship
Gold Medal (2013)
2020 Olympics
Withdrew from the team due to NBA focus
Ben Simmons Relationship with Family
Family Member
Relationship
Father
Dave Simmons, former professional basketball player
Mother
Julie Simmons, Australian national
Siblings
Five siblings, with sister Emily working for Klutch Sports
Social and Political Engagement
Event
Details
2020 Election
Endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Relationship
Engaged to Maya Jama, later ended in 2022
Ben Simmons Endorsements and Sponsorships
Brand
Details
Nike
Signed endorsement deal in 2016
Klutch Sports
Signed with the agency after declaring for the NBA draft
International Representation
Competition
Result/Details
FIBA World Cup
Declined to play in 2019 due to NBA obligations
2016 Summer Olympics
Withdrew to prepare for NBA career
Ben Simmons NBA Draft
Year
Details
2016 NBA Draft
First overall pick by Philadelphia 76ers
Draft Profile
Considered the top overall prospect, despite not playing in the NCAA tournament
Ben Simmons High School Career
High School
Achievements
Montverde Academy
National Champion, MVP honors
Stats
Averaged 18.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.7 APG
Ben Simmons NBA Draft Controversies
Topic
Details
Pre-Draft Criticism
Media questioned his attitude and character
Post-Draft Performance
Proved critics wrong with strong Summer League showing
Ben Simmons Personal Life and Interests
Interest
Details
Sports Teams
Supports Essendon Football Club, Newcastle Knights
Hobbies
Focus on improving his shooting game, family involvement
Ben Simmons Net Worth
Ben Simmons net worth is still a reported $80M.
Ben Simmons Summary
Ben Simmons is one of the most highly regarded professional basketball players, known for his versatility on the court and his impressive achievements both at the college level and in the NBA. His career began with an impactful college season at LSU, followed by being the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Simmons has earned multiple accolades, including NBA Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, and two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team. He has also been a part of Australia’s national team and contributed significantly to their international success. Despite controversies, Simmons remains a key figure in modern basketball, with continued potential for growth and success in his career.
