History of Ben Simmons in Timeline

Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player currently with the Los Angeles Clippers. He played college basketball at LSU, earning All-American honors. Drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, he missed his first season due to injury but was named Rookie of the Year in 2018. Simmons is a three-time NBA All-Star. A holdout from the 76ers following the 2020-21 season resulted in a trade to the Brooklyn Nets and significant fines, making him the most-fined player in NBA history.

Sections (5)

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

1960: Oscar Robertson's Rookie Triple-Doubles

In 1960, Oscar Robertson set the standard for rookie triple-doubles, a mark Simmons would later chase.

1967: Art Williams' Rookie Triple-Double

In 1967, Art Williams recorded a triple-double in his first four games, a feat matched by Ben Simmons.

1980: Magic Johnson's Playoff Triple-Double

In 1980, Magic Johnson became the first rookie since with a playoff triple-double, a milestone that Simmons later matched.

1989: Father Joins Melbourne Tigers

In 1989, Ben Simmons' father, Dave Simmons, joined the Melbourne Tigers in Australia's National Basketball League.

December 1991: O'Neal's 43 Points

In December 1991, Shaquille O'Neal scored 43 points against Northern Arizona, the most for a Tigers player until Simmons matched it.

July 1996: Birth of Ben Simmons

In July 1996, Benjamin David Simmons was born.

2001: 76ers best regular season record since 2001

In 2001, The 76ers finished the regular season with a 16th straight win to earn the Eastern Conference's No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Their record of 52–30 set the best team mark since 2001.

2005: Andrew Bogut drafted #1 overall

In 2005, Andrew Bogut was drafted #1 overall.

2011: Kyrie Irving drafted #1 overall

In 2011, Kyrie Irving was drafted #1 overall.

2011: Played at Australian Schools Championships

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

2012: Scholarship at Australian Institute of Sport

In 2012, Ben Simmons took up a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport and made his first appearance in the United States at the Pangos All-American Camp for basketball prospects. He was also chosen to represent Australia at the 2012 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, contributing to the team's silver medal win.

January 2013: Move to the U.S.

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

April 2013: High School National Tournament Victory

In April 2013, Ben Simmons helped Montverde Academy rally to beat St Benedict's in the final of the High School National Tournament.

June 2013: Joined Bulleen Boomers

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

October 2013: Committed to LSU

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

2013: Preseason Honors

In 2013, Before his freshman year of college, Ben Simmons was featured on the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook cover and named SEC's Preseason Player of the Year and Associated Press preseason All-America team.

2013: Senior Debut for Australia

In 2013, Ben Simmons made his senior debut for Australia in the FIBA Oceania Championship against New Zealand, contributing to the team's gold medal win.

2013: Junior Season at Montverde Academy

In 2013, during his junior season, Ben Simmons averaged 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, leading Montverde Academy to a 28-0 record and a High School National Tournament victory over Oak Hill Academy. He earned MVP honors.

2013: Verbal commitment to play for Australia

Since 2013, Ben Simmons had verbally stated on multiple occasions his commitment to play for Australia in competitions like the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics, but withdrew each time before the competition.

July 2014: Boomers Extended Squad

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

November 2014: Signed National Letter of Intent with LSU

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

2014: Sister's employment at Klutch Sports

In 2014, Ben Simmons' sister Emily, a former member of the Washington State University women's rowing team, started working for Klutch Sports.

January 2015: McDonald's All-American Selection

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

March 2015: Awards and Recognition

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

August 2015: Signaled intentions to represent Australia at the 2016 Summer Olympics

In August 2015, Ben Simmons signaled his intentions to represent Australia at the 2016 Summer Olympics and stated that 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 in a win over McNeese State.

2015: High School National Tournament Title and Nike Hoop Summit

In 2015, Ben Simmons led Montverde Academy to a third consecutive High School National Tournament title, earning MVP honors. He also competed in the Nike Hoop Summit for the World Team, scoring 13 points in a win over Team USA.

2015: Ranked #1 Player Nationally

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: Comparisons to LeBron James and Bench Due to Academics

In January 2016, Ben Simmons was compared to LeBron James by Magic Johnson and was later benched for a game against Tennessee due to academic reasons. 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, after LSU failed to earn an NCAA tournament bid, Ben Simmons declared for the 2016 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. He signed with Klutch Sports and planned to move to Phoenix, Arizona.

April 2016: Withdrew from the Australian team

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

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 25 June 2016 in New Jersey.

June 2016: Signed endorsement deal with Nike

On 7 June 2016, Ben Simmons signed an endorsement deal with Nike.

July 2016: Signed with 76ers and Summer League Performance

In July 2016, Ben Simmons signed his rookie contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and participated in the NBA Summer League. Despite shooting poorly, he was praised for his court awareness and passing ability and was named to the All-Las Vegas Summer League First Team.

September 2016: Fractured Foot Injury

In September 2016, Ben Simmons fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during a 76ers training camp scrimmage.

November 2016: Featured in 'One & Done' documentary

In November 2016, Ben Simmons was featured in the Showtime documentary film "One & Done", providing insights into his time as a one-and-done college player.

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2016: Drafted #1 Overall by Philadelphia 76ers

In 2016, Ben Simmons was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

2016: Drafted #1 Overall by 76ers

In 2016, Ben Simmons was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one overall pick in the NBA draft.

2016: LSU's Season and Tournament Performance

In 2016, LSU finished the regular season with an 18-13 record and lost in the SEC tournament semifinals, failing to receive an NCAA tournament berth. Ben Simmons led the team in most statistical categories, averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.

February 2017: Ruled Out for Season

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

October 2017: Intentions to represent Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo

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

October 2017: NBA Debut and Early Records

In October 2017, Ben Simmons made his NBA debut, recording 18 points and 10 rebounds. He joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to post 10-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, and 5-plus assists in their first three NBA games. He recorded his first career triple-double in his fourth game, becoming the third rookie to do so in his first four games, after Robertson (1960) and Art Williams (1967).

September 2018: Simmons Works on Improving Shooting

In September 2018, Ben Simmons started working with his brother Liam Tribe-Simmons to improve his shooting skills during the off-season, with plans to continue throughout the season.

October 2018: Season Opener Loss to Celtics, Triple-Double Against Bulls

In October 16, 2018, Ben Simmons recorded 19 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists in a 105–87 loss to the Boston Celtics in the 76ers' season opener. Two days later in October 18, he achieved a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 127–108 win over the Chicago Bulls, becoming the first Sixer to achieve this in a home opener.

2018: NBA Rookie of the Year

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

2018: Brother hired as shooting coach

In the summer of 2018, Ben Simmons' brother Liam resigned as assistant coach to work with Simmons on improving his shooting game.

May 2019: Confirmed representation of Australia in the FIBA World Cup

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

July 2019: Simmons Agrees to Contract Extension

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

July 2019: Announced withdrawal from the Australian national team

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

October 2019: Strong Start to 2019-20 Season

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

January 2020: Simmons Scores 34 Points Against Nets, All-Star Selection

On January 20, 2020, Ben Simmons scored 34 points and recorded 12 assists and 12 rebounds in a 117–111 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On January 30, he was awarded his second All-Star appearance.

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, 13 rebounds and 4 assists in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.

October 2020: Endorsement for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

On 3 October 2020, Ben Simmons announced his endorsement for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the 2020 United States presidential election.

2020: NBA Steals Leader, All-NBA Third Team

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 and Trade

In 2020, Ben Simmons' holdout from the 76ers began, ultimately leading to a trade to the Brooklyn Nets.

2020: Intention to represent Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo

In October 2017, Simmons made clear his intentions to represent Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo; however, he withdrew from the Australia Olympic squad in June 2021.

February 2021: Career-High 42 Points Against 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: Withdrew 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

In August 2021, Ben Simmons decided he wanted to be traded from the 76ers, citing issues with his fit alongside Joel Embiid. He indicated his willingness to miss training camp to push for a trade.

October 2021: Suspension and Fines

In October 2021, Ben Simmons returned to the 76ers but was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team after refusing to participate in a drill. He faced repeated fines for his absence, becoming the most-fined player in NBA history, and cited mental health issues.

2021: Criticism After Playoff Loss

Following the 76ers' Game 7 loss in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers questioned Ben Simmons's performance and fit with the team.

2021: Refusal to Play and Financial Consequences

In 2021, Ben Simmons missed training camp and preseason games, leading the 76ers to withhold $8.25 million of his salary. He also put his Philadelphia home on the market.

2021: Reportedly became engaged to Maya Jama

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

January 2022: Limited Fines and Continued Absence

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

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

August 2022: Reportedly ended engagement with Maya Jama

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

August 2022: Grievance Settlement

In August 2022, Ben Simmons and the 76ers reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount regarding the salary withheld from him.

October 2022: Nets Debut

In October 19, 2022, Ben Simmons made his Nets debut, scoring four points with five rebounds and five assists before fouling out in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

January 2023: Season-High Assists

In January 12, 2023, Ben Simmons dished out a season-high 13 assists in a loss to the Boston Celtics.

February 2023: Knee Issues and PRP Injection

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 the Australian team for the 2024 Summer Olympics

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

2023: Season plagued by injuries.

During the 2023 NBA season, Ben Simmons' performance steeply declined, with career lows in multiple stats, due to continued injuries.

January 2024: Season Debut After Injury

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