By September 9, 2025, Ben Simmons’s future took another sharp turn when his agent, Bernie Lee, cut ties with him. The move came soon after Simmons showed little interest in a veteran minimum offer from the New York Knicks, reported to be worth around $3 million. League insiders say Lee ended the partnership once it was clear Simmons wasn’t engaging with the opportunities being discussed. At 29, Simmons stands at a crossroads, facing retirement pressures, but there may still be one option left if he chooses to continue.

The split from his agent follows a tough 2024–25 season in which Simmons played 51 games with the Nets and Clippers. Once a three-time All-Star, he has now drawn only minimum-level attention from teams like the Knicks, Celtics, Kings, and Suns. So, apart from the veteran minimum offers, what other options are now left open for Simmons?

The possibility of Ben Simmons returning to Australia to play in the NBL was recently discussed on the league’s official Instagram account. Host Felix Von Hofe asked whether Simmons’ situation meant potential retirement from the NBA and if there was any realistic chance of him suiting up in the NBL. Former NBL guard Damon Lowery was quick to express his enthusiasm: “Man, I’d love to see Ben. I’d love to see him play basketball anywhere, but if he can come right here and come back home to play, he would dominate. Six-ten point guard, can guard absolutely everybody. It would be too easy for Ben if he was back here playing NBL.”

Lowery’s comments reflect both Simmons’s unique skill set and the differences between the NBA and the NBL. Even with his recent decline in production, averaging just 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists across 51 games in the 2024–25 season, Simmons still brings elite defensive instincts and passing ability that could stand out in a league with fewer physically dominant stars.

His versatility as a 6’10” ball-handler and multi-positional defender has long been his calling card. In fact, Simmons was an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection in 2020 and 2021. That pedigree is what fuels the belief that he could thrive if he were to step into an NBL uniform.

Adding to the discussion, former NBL standout Derek Rucker pointed to the lighter workload in Australia compared to the NBA grind. “The other factor is with one and a half games on average per week, it takes the load off his back. He can manage what’s really curtailed what we thought was gonna be an all-time career,” Rucker explained.

This point resonates given Simmons’s long battle with back and knee injuries, which have derailed his consistency since leaving the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022. In the NBL’s shorter season, 28 games plus finals, compared to the NBA’s 82, Simmons could focus on recovery and conditioning while still showcasing the flashes of playmaking and defense that once made him an All-NBA talent. So, if Simmons does decide to play in Australia, will this mark an end to his career in the NBA?

Is the NBA Really Over for Ben Simmons?

Ben Simmons’s rejection of the Knicks’ veteran minimum offer earlier this month now looks like the turning point in New York’s offseason plans. By September 12, 2025, the Knicks had filled their final roster spot, inking Landry Shamet to a one-year deal just days after reports surfaced that Simmons was unwilling to engage with their offer. They also added Malcolm Brogdon, whose steady backcourt presence gives Tom Thibodeau another proven option. The moves reflected a shift from speculation about whether Simmons could revive his career in New York to the certainty that the franchise had chosen shooting and stability instead.

Four years removed from his All-Star peak, Simmons has been battling recurring back and knee issues while struggling to rediscover the aggression that once made him the 2018 Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Defensive First Team selection. New York, constrained by the second apron and unable to gamble on uncertainty, prioritized a player like Shamet, who hit nearly 40 percent from three last season and already fits within their system. His decline has been so visible that former NBA guard Jeff Teague, speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, bluntly said: “It’s over, bro. Ya’ll seen him when he was playing; he can’t move anymore.… He runs like his back hurts. He’s hurt.”

For Simmons, the Knicks’ final decision represents more than just one missed opportunity, it highlights how his standing across the league has shifted. Once the centerpiece of a playoff contender in Philadelphia, he is now seen as a question mark rather than a cornerstone. That is why discussion around the NBL has picked up, with voices like Damon Lowery and Derek Rucker arguing that Australia could provide a softer landing spot.