Ben Simmons isn’t chasing a comeback headline the usual way.
The former No. 1 overall pick, once positioned as a franchise cornerstone for the Philadelphia 76ers and later a high-profile gamble for the Brooklyn Nets, has quietly shifted his competitive focus away from NBA hardwoods and toward open water. Simmons has purchased a controlling stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a team in the fast-growing Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), signaling a sharp pivot at a crossroads moment in his career.
For Simmons, it’s less about walking away from basketball and more about redefining what competition, purpose, and ownership look like in his next chapter.
Why Ben Simmons Is Investing in the Sport Fishing Championship
Simmons’ move into professional sport fishing might sound unexpected, but it aligns neatly with his personal interests and his current professional reality.
In an interview with Andscape, Simmons described fishing as a world few outsiders truly understand, one built on precision, endurance, and elite-level resources.
“It’s a very niche sport. And if you don’t know, you don’t know. But once you experience it… you’re kind of in awe.”
The Sport Fishing Championship, founded in 2021, features 16 teams competing internationally across North America. Events center on high-stakes billfish competitions, marlin and sailfish, with teams operating million-dollar vessels and spending days at sea.
For Simmons, that grit matters.
This isn’t recreational angling. It’s professionalized, data-driven, and expensive, qualities that mirror the elite sports ecosystem he knows well.
What is the Sport Fishing Championship, and why does it attract celebrities?
A New Kind of Pro Sports League
The SFC positions itself less like a traditional fishing tournament and more like a modern sports league:
- Team-based competition
- International events
- Live scoring and media coverage
- Franchise-style ownership
Simmons even compared the SFC’s disruptive ambitions to LIV Golf, a league that challenged golf’s traditional power structures with new money, new formats, and aggressive expansion.
That comparison matters. It suggests Simmons isn’t just buying a hobby; he’s betting on growth.
Celebrity Owners and Strategic Validation
Simmons joins a growing list of high-profile owners across sports and entertainment, including
- Scottie Scheffler (golf)
- Austin Dillon (NASCAR)
- Raheem Mostert (NFL)
- Talor Gooch and Harold Varner III (golf)
- Brian Kelley (music)
For readers, a useful visual here would be an infographic mapping celebrity owners across SFC teams, highlighting how nontraditional leagues are courting crossover audiences.
This kind of ownership ecosystem mirrors trends in Formula E, pickleball leagues, and women’s soccer, emerging properties fueled by star capital and cultural curiosity.
How Ben Simmons’ NBA Career Led to This Pivot
From Rookie of the Year to Reluctant Shooter
Simmons entered the NBA with rare expectations. He won Rookie of the Year in 2018 and earned three All-Star selections, celebrated for his size, court vision, and defensive versatility.
But his refusal to shoot, especially in high-stakes playoff moments, became defining. Injuries, confidence issues, and mental health struggles followed, all playing out under an unforgiving spotlight.
The Brooklyn Nets Era and a Costly Reputation
Acquired by the Nets in a 2022 blockbuster trade for James Harden, Simmons was expected to reset his career.
Instead:
- He played just 90 games over two-plus seasons
- Averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds
- Was still owed significant money on a five-year, $177 million contract
By February 2025, Brooklyn had bought him out. Simmons signed a league-minimum deal with the Clippers to close the season, an 18-game stint that did little to clarify his future.
At that point, he openly questioned whether returning to the NBA was worth it.
Is Ben Simmons Still Trying to Make an NBA Comeback?
Yes, but on his own terms.
Simmons says he’s doing two-a-day workouts in Los Angeles, targeting a possible return by the All-Star break. What’s changed is his mindset.
He’s not chasing any roster spot. He’s resisting the idea of filling space without meaning.
“I don’t think there’s any point in just wasting a spot just to be out there.”
That perspective reflects both privilege and fatigue. Simmons doesn’t need a paycheck. He wants alignment, physical readiness, competitive relevance, and personal fulfillment.
This dual-track reality, training for basketball while investing elsewhere, suggests he’s no longer defining himself solely as an NBA player.
Why Ownership Matters More Than a Comeback Right Now
Control vs. Dependency
In the NBA, Simmons’ fate depends on front offices, contracts, and public opinion. As an SFC owner, he controls his stake, his narrative, and his timeline.
That shift from employee to investor is significant and increasingly common among modern athletes.
A Lifelong Passion, Not a PR Stunt
Simmons’ interest in fishing predates his NBA struggles. He grew up around the water in Newcastle, New South Wales, and now spends time offshore aboard his 53-foot center console boat, aptly named The Real One Fishing Club Boat.
This isn’t brand laundering. It’s continuity.
Fishing gives him:
- Competitive structure without constant scrutiny
- Physical intensity without NBA-level wear
- A long-term asset beyond his playing prime
What Ben Simmons’ Move Says About Athlete Careers Today
Simmons’ story fits a broader shift in pro sports.
Elite athletes are no longer waiting until retirement to diversify. They’re building parallel identities as investors, owners, and founders, while still physically active.
Key takeaways for readers:
- Athlete careers are shorter than ever, both financially and physically
- Mental health and autonomy now factor into career decisions
- Emerging leagues offer ownership access that traditional sports rarely do
TL;DR: What This Means for Ben Simmons and Sports Culture
- Ben Simmons now owns a controlling stake in an SFC team
- He’s still training for a possible NBA return, but selectively
- The move reflects a shift toward ownership, control, and long-term value
- The Sport Fishing Championship is positioning itself as a modern, celebrity-backed league
Simmons may still find his way back to the NBA. Or he may not.
Either way, he’s no longer waiting for basketball to define his future.