History of Ben Simmons in Timeline

Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player currently with the Los Angeles Clippers. After a single college season at LSU, where he earned All-American honors, he was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016. Simmons missed his first season due to injury but was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and earned three All-Star selections. A holdout from the 76ers following the 2020-21 season that led to a trade to the Brooklyn Nets resulted in him becoming the most-fined player in NBA history in terms of total financial loss.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1960: Oscar Robertson's Rookie Season

In 1960, Oscar Robertson achieved a triple-double in his first four NBA games.

1967: Art Williams' Rookie Season

In 1967, Art Williams achieved a triple-double in his first four NBA games.

1980: Magic Johnson's Playoff Triple-Double

In 1980, Magic Johnson achieved a playoff triple-double. During the 2018 playoffs, Ben Simmons became the first rookie since Magic Johnson in 1980 to have a playoff triple-double, helping the 76ers advance to the second round.

1989: Father's Professional Basketball Career

In 1989, Ben Simmons' father started his professional basketball career with the Melbourne Tigers in Australia's National Basketball League.

December 1991: Shaquille O'Neal's 43 Points

In December 1991, Shaquille O'Neal scored 43 points against Northern Arizona. On December 2nd, Ben Simmons matched this LSU record with 43 points in a game against North Florida.

July 1996: Ben Simmons Born

In July 1996, Benjamin David Simmons was born. He is an Australian professional basketball player.

2001: 76ers' Record Since 2001

In 2001, the Philadelphia 76ers had a record of 56-26. On April 10, 2018, the team set a franchise record with their 15th consecutive victory, finishing the regular season with a 16th straight win and earning the Eastern Conference's No. 3 seed in the playoffs.

2005: Andrew Bogut Drafted

In 2005, Andrew Bogut was the number one overall pick in the NBA draft.

2011: Kyrie Irving Drafted

In 2011, Kyrie Irving was the number one overall pick in the NBA draft.

2011: Played in Australian Schools Championships

In 2011, at the age of 15, Ben Simmons played basketball for Box Hill Senior Secondary College at the Australian Schools Championships.

2012: Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship and FIBA

In 2012, Ben Simmons took up a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport and represented Australia at the FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

2012: FIBA Under-17 World Championship

In 2012, at age 15, Ben Simmons represented Australia at the FIBA Under-17 World Championship, helping the team win a silver medal.

January 2013: Move to the U.S.

In January 2013, Ben Simmons moved to the U.S. to compete against boys of comparable size and athleticism and attended Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida.

April 2013: High School National Tournament Win

In April 2013, Ben Simmons helped Montverde Academy win the High School National Tournament against St Benedict's.

June 2013: Joins Bulleen Boomers

In June 2013, after competing in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game, Ben Simmons joined the Bulleen Boomers of the Big V competition in Melbourne.

October 2013: Committed to Louisiana State University

On October 14, 2013, Ben Simmons committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college basketball, choosing LSU over offers from Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke.

2013: Senior Debut for Australia

In 2013, Ben Simmons made his senior debut for Australia in the FIBA Oceania Championship against New Zealand. He was also a part of the gold medal-winning Australian team.

2013: Junior Season at Montverde Academy

In 2013, Ben Simmons returned to Montverde Academy for his junior season where he averaged 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, with Montverde finishing the season with a 28–0 record and winning the High School National Tournament, Simmons earning MVP honors with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

2013: Preseason Player of the Year

In 2013, Ben Simmons was named the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year, and earned Associated Press preseason All-America team honors.

July 2014: Boomers Extended Squad Addition

In July 2014, Ben Simmons was added to the Boomers extended squad for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, but he did not make the final 12-man roster.

November 2014: Signed National Letter of Intent with LSU

In November 2014, Ben Simmons signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for LSU.

January 2015: McDonald's All-American Game Selection

On January 28, 2015, Ben Simmons was named as a starter for the East team in the McDonald's All-American Game.

March 2015: Awards and Honors

In March 2015, Ben Simmons received the Morgan Wootten Award, was named Naismith Prep Player of the Year, and Gatorade National Player of the Year, leading the Eagles to a 28-1 record.

August 2015: Intention to Represent Australia at 2016 Summer Olympics

In August 2015, Ben Simmons signaled his intentions to represent Australia at the 2016 Summer Olympics and said he was aiming to win a medal.

November 2015: College Debut with LSU

In November 2015, Ben Simmons made his college debut for LSU, recording a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds in a win over McNeese State.

2015: McDonald's All-American Game and High School Championship

In 2015, Ben Simmons competed in the McDonald's All-American Game and led Montverde Academy to a third consecutive High School National Tournament title, earning MVP honors again.

2015: Ranked #1 Player

In 2015, Ben Simmons was considered a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 1 player in the nation by ESPN.com.

January 2016: All-SEC and Freshman of the Year

In January 2016, after a win over Kentucky, Ben Simmons was dubbed the best all-round player since LeBron James. Later he was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference and the league's Freshman of the Year.

March 2016: Declared for NBA Draft

In March 2016, Ben Simmons declared for the 2016 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility, and signed with Klutch Sports.

April 2016: Withdrawal from 2016 Olympics

In April 2016, Ben Simmons withdrew from the Australian team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in order to prepare for his rookie season in the NBA.

June 2016: Cousin Killed in Hit-and-Run

A cousin of Ben Simmons, who had attended the 2016 NBA draft, was killed in a hit-and-run on June 25, 2016, in New Jersey.

June 2016: Endorsement Deal with Nike

On 7 June 2016, Ben Simmons signed an endorsement deal with Nike, marking a significant step in his burgeoning career.

July 2016: Signed with 76ers and Joined Summer League

In July 2016, Ben Simmons signed his rookie contract with the 76ers and joined the team for the NBA Summer League, later being named in the All-Las Vegas Summer League First Team.

September 2016: Ankle Injury

In September 2016, Ben Simmons rolled his right ankle during the 76ers' training camp, resulting in a fractured fifth metatarsal bone.

November 2016: Showtime Documentary Film Appearance

In November 2016, Ben Simmons was featured in the Showtime documentary film One & Done, which provided insight into his time as a one-and-done college player. It also explored his and his family's thoughts on the NCAA and the NBA's "one and done" rule.

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2016: Drafted by Philadelphia 76ers

In 2016, Ben Simmons was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one overall pick.

2016: End of LSU Season

In 2016, LSU finished the regular season with an 18-13 record and failed to receive an NCAA tournament berth, with Ben Simmons leading the team in most statistical categories.

February 2017: Ruled out for the Season

In February 2017, Ben Simmons was ruled out for the entire 2016-17 NBA season due to his broken right foot not fully healing.

October 2017: Intention to Represent Australia at 2020 Summer Olympics

In October 2017, Ben Simmons made clear his intentions to represent Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

October 2017: NBA Debut

In October 2017, Ben Simmons made his NBA debut with 18 points and 10 rebounds and had a triple-double in his fourth game, joining Oscar Robertson and Art Williams as the only rookies to do so in their first four games.

October 2018: Season Opener vs. Boston Celtics and Game vs. Chicago Bulls

In October 2018, during the 76ers' season opener on October 16 against the Boston Celtics, Ben Simmons recorded 19 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists in a 105–87 loss. On October 18, he achieved a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 127–108 victory over the Chicago Bulls, marking his 13th career triple-double and making him the first Sixer to achieve one in a home opener.

2018: NBA Rookie of the Year

In 2018, Ben Simmons was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

May 2019: Commitment to 2019 FIBA World Cup

On May 15, 2019, Ben Simmons confirmed he would represent Australia in the 2019 FIBA World Cup and multiple exhibition games against Canada and the United States.

July 2019: Withdrawal from 2019 FIBA World Cup

In July 2019, Ben Simmons announced that he would not play for the Australian national team in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, citing "professional obligations".

July 2019: Contract Extension with 76ers

On July 15, 2019, Ben Simmons and the 76ers agreed to a $170 million, five-year contract extension.

October 2019: 2019-20 NBA Season Opener Against Boston Celtics

On October 23, 2019, in the 2019–20 NBA season opener against the Boston Celtics, Ben Simmons scored 24 points on 68 percent shooting and recorded nine assists and eight rebounds in a 107–93 win.

January 2020: All-Star Appearance and Game against Brooklyn Nets

In January 2020, specifically on January 20, Ben Simmons scored 34 points and recorded 12 assists and 12 rebounds in a 117–111 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On January 30, it was announced that Simmons had been awarded with his second All-Star appearance and was drafted by Team LeBron.

August 2020: Return to Play in NBA Bubble

On August 1, 2020, Ben Simmons returned to play during the NBA Bubble, where he scored 19 points along with 13 rebounds and 4 assists in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.

October 2020: Endorsement for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

In October 2020, Ben Simmons publicly announced his endorsement for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 United States presidential election.

2020: NBA Steals Leader and All-NBA Team Selection

At the end of the 2020 season, Ben Simmons was the NBA steals leader and was named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

2020: Holdout from 76ers

In 2020, Ben Simmons' holdout from the 76ers began, ultimately leading to his trade to the Brooklyn Nets and him becoming the most-fined player in NBA history.

February 2021: Career-High 42 Points vs. Utah Jazz

On February 15, 2021, Ben Simmons recorded a double-double with a career-high 42 points and 12 assists in a 134–123 loss to the Utah Jazz.

June 2021: Withdrawal from Australia Olympic Squad

In June 2021, Ben Simmons withdrew from the Australia Olympic squad, stating that he was focusing on improving his shooting skills for the 2021–22 NBA season.

August 2021: Trade Demand and Departure Desire

In August 2021, Ben Simmons, despite having four years left on his contract with the 76ers, decided he no longer wanted to be a member of the team and requested a trade, indicating he was willing to miss training camp to enforce it.

October 2021: Return to 76ers, Suspension, and Fines

In October 2021, specifically on October 11, Ben Simmons returned to the 76ers. However, on October 19, he was thrown out of practice and suspended for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team. Simmons was also fined for missing preseason games and practices. Later in October after citing mental health issues, the fines were briefly stopped before being restarted, leading him to become the most-fined player in NBA history, surpassing $10 million by the end of 2021.

2021: Eastern Conference Semifinals Loss and Team Doubts

After the 76ers' Game 7 loss in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Joel Embiid cited Ben Simmons' decision to pass up an open dunk as a turning point. Following the game, Coach Doc Rivers expressed uncertainty about whether Simmons could be a point guard on a championship team.

2021: Engagement to Maya Jama

Over the 2021 Christmas holiday, Ben Simmons reportedly became engaged to British television personality Maya Jama.

January 2022: Limited Fining and Continued Docking

In January 2022, the 76ers reportedly limited their fining of Ben Simmons in response to him attending team meetings and counseling sessions but continued to dock him for missed games.

February 2022: Trade to Brooklyn Nets

On February 10, 2022, Ben Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with Andre Drummond, Seth Curry, and two future first-round picks in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap.

August 2022: Engagement Ended

In August 2022, Ben Simmons and British television personality Maya Jama reportedly ended their engagement.

August 2022: Settlement with 76ers

In August 2022, Ben Simmons and the 76ers settled his grievance to recoup nearly $20 million in salary withheld from him by the team. The settlement amount was undisclosed.

October 2022: Nets Debut

On October 19, 2022, Ben Simmons made his Nets debut, putting up four points, five rebounds, and five assists before fouling out in a 130–108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

January 2023: Season-High Assists

On January 12, 2023, Ben Simmons dished out a season-high 13 assists, alongside nine rebounds and two steals, in a 109–98 loss to the Boston Celtics. Then on January 17, Simmons recorded his first triple-double as a Net, logging ten points, ten rebounds and eleven assists in a 106–98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

February 2023: Knee Treatment

In February 2023, Ben Simmons had his knee drained and received a PRP injection for his ongoing left knee soreness.

August 2023: Declared Intent to Join Australian Team for 2024 Olympics

In August 2023, Ben Simmons declared his intent to join the Australian team for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

2023: Injury and Season's End Announcement

In 2023, After playing in only 15 games for the Nets, On March 7, the Nets announced that Ben Simmons would miss the remainder of the season due to a nerve impingement in his lower back.

January 2024: Season Debut After Injury

On January 29, 2024, after missing the first 38 games of the season, Ben Simmons made his season debut, recording 10 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds in a 147–114 win against the Utah Jazz.