Opinion: With confidence, a Ben Simmons return would be positive for the 76ers
Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers calls to teammates during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Wells Fargo Center on March 01, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Just five years ago, Ben Simmons found himself as “Enemy No. 1” in the city of Philadelphia after his infamous pass in the final minutes of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals. I would be lying if I said I was not one of the most anti-Simmons fans during this era.
Up to that moment, Simmons had become a key player in Philadelphia, as he and Joel Embiid came together to form one of the strongest duos in the NBA. In his four seasons as a 76er, Simmons garnished one of the strongest resumes in the NBA, being a three-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA Defensive Player, an All-NBA Third Team player, and Rookie of the Year. Along with this, in this stretch, Simmons was top-five in the NBA in both stocks and triple-doubles.
Now, in 2026, Simmons is getting his name brought back into Philadelphia discussions, and not in a bad way. Simmons, after a year away from the NBA, has hinted numerous times at a return. The most recent came in an interview with Men’s Health on Monday, when he stated that a return to basketball was “never a question” and that it is “in [his] DNA”.
Obviously, Simmons is not the player he once was, and after five years, the former All-Star is now approaching 30 years old and has scored just six points per game over the last three seasons he played in. Although this may seem little, another aspect is his huge loss of confidence. Before the shock to his confidence, Simmons was a threat in every aspect of the floor.
With that, he has shown his desire to return to the City of Brotherly Love.
“Maybe I’ll go back to Philly,” Simmons said to Men’s Health.
This is another testament to his desire to be back in Philadelphia again and reframe his narrative from 76ers’ villain to 76ers’ legend.
The “play-maker” now has heart. The only thing more important to a player than their skill is their heart. I cannot see any world where a player’s skill can outweigh their lack of heart for the game.
Personally, I am on board with this return. Although we will not see the play-making, floor-spreading Simmons of the past, he could still provide a steady floor presence off the bench. Along with that, his contract should not be very hefty.
“it aint about the $, id hoop there for free,” Simmons said in an Instagram comment in December. “IIts deeper then what they make y’all believe which is why i keep it pushing 🤐 rn the focus is gettin the body to 100% before putting my health on the line again… like i have been the past few years”
Even during his struggle years in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, Simmons was still putting up similar rebounding and assisting numbers to his former self. Along with that, he was still an effective shooter as well, shooting around 56% with Philadelphia and 55% after. The only real collapse was his confidence, as his attempted shots per game went from almost 12 to under five, in just seven or eight fewer minutes played per game. I was very harsh to Simmons for his lack of production since Philadelphia; however, after truly running the numbers and watching the film, he is still the same player, he is just scared of being the player everyone thinks he is.
With confidence, Simmons could have still been a very solid role player, if not a starter, during his following five seasons after his infamous pass in Game 7. If he were to return to Philadelphia, it is highly unlikely he would start; however, he could make for very impactful minutes if he had the confidence to shoot. Assuming he shot just as well after his departure in 2021, but twice as much, Simmons would have averaged 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists per game on solid shooting splits in less than 24 minutes. These stats make for a very efficient bench option, as Dominick Barlow played for a similar amount of time and had worse stats on worse shooting.
I have no doubt that a Simmons return would be the cause for much ridicule and debate in and out of Philadelphia. I cannot see any world where the 76ers could be where they are today without Simmons, and I would love to see Simmons return and give the 76ers one last playoff push. I think his mix of play-making and rebounding is exactly what the 76ers need off the bench, and could be the difference between being a play-in team and a real contender once again.
Free agency is a time for rumors and chaos to make the NBA explode; however, with all the buzz, some players can quietly alter the franchise for the better. This offseason, I cannot see any world where the 76ers make a splash; however, they do possess the ability to bring back a former splash in Simmons. If given the confidence and the re-incorporation, I do not doubt that Simmons could become the serious threat he was in his glory days.
Isaac Baranski
Isaac is a high-school senior who currently attends the Hun School of Princeton. In his free time, he has many interests, but most of all is his love for Philadelphia sports. He has watched the 76ers since the days of Sam Hinkie and hopes to watch the process be completed. He has also watched the Phillies since the days of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and the great crew, and hopes to see Red October finally achieve its goal. Along with that, he picked up a love for the Philadelphia Union shortly before the pandemic, and has seen them win multiple Supporters’ Shields in person. Lastly, and most importantly, he is a major football lover and an even bigger Eagles lover. Since developing his love for The Birds in elementary school, he has made it his goal to never miss a game.
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