From NBA Bust to Bass King: Ben Simmons’ Shocking Tackle Box Trades Court for Boat
In a move that would make even the most cynical sports fan do a double-take, the NBA world has been rocked by a tidal wave of disbelief. Ben Simmons, the 6’10”, 29 year old former #1 overall pick whose basketball career was defined by unfulfilled potential, contract disputes, and a baffling allergy to the three point line, has announced his retirement. But this isn’t a quiet fade into the sunset. Simmons is hanging up his Nikes not for a broadcast booth or a coaching clipboard, but for a fishing rod and the open water.
The three-time All-Star, once touted as the next LeBron James, is walking away from his $177 million contract to pursue a career as a professional fisherman. In a statement released through his agency, Klutch Sports, Simmons said, “I’ve found my true passion on the water. The peace, the patience, the thrill of the catch… it’s what my soul has been searching for. I’m excited to announce my partnership with Bass Pro Shops and my entry into the Major League Fishing (MLF) tour. See you at the weigh ins.” Social media has exploded, with the hashtag #FBLifestyle (Fishing Ben Lifestyle) trending worldwide. From “The Process” to “The Catch,” Ben Simmons’ story has taken its most unbelievable turn yet.
From Philly Phenom to Brooklyn Enigma: The Bait That Never Set
Ben Simmons’ journey to this moment has been a masterclass in unmet expectations. Drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, he was immediately anointed as the savior of “The Process.” With a guard’s handle in a forward’s body and preternatural passing vision, his rookie season dazzled, earning him Rookie of the Year honors. He was an All-Star by his second year, drawing comparisons to Magic Johnson for his unique blend of size and playmaking. But the cracks began to show, and they were fundamental. In a league increasingly dominated by perimeter shooting, Simmons displayed a complete and seemingly psychological aversion to taking jump shots. Defenses sagged off him, clogging the lane for his teammates. The narrative soured from “potential superstar” to “fatal flaw.”
The turning point came in the 2021 playoffs. In a critical Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks, with his team’s season on the line, Simmons passed up a wide open dunk, a moment that became a permanent symbol of his passive aggression towards scoring. The relationship with Philadelphia fractured beyond repair. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the blockbuster deal for James Harden, but the change of scenery did little to change the story. Plagued by a mysterious back injury, mental health challenges, and a game that seemed to regress, Simmons became a league wide meme a symbol of max contract money for minimal on court production. In Brooklyn, he was a shell of his former self, a $35 million a year spectator often seen on the bench in designer streetwear, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. As it turns out, he did.
The Secret Getaway: How Fishing Became Simmons’ Safe Harbor
While the basketball world saw a disengaged enigma, a different Ben Simmons was emerging far from the glare of NBA arenas. For years, a close circle of friends and family knew of his obsession. His social media, carefully curated to show gym workouts and sponsorship obligations, hid a secret passion. On his private Instagram, accessible only to a few hundred followers, Simmons posted constantly: serene sunrise shots on glassy lakes, triumphant holds of massive largemouth bass, intricate tutorials on tying specific flies. Teammates would joke about his constant browsing of tackle catalogs during flights. Former Nets guard Seth Curry once quipped in a podcast, “Man, Ben knows more about the migration patterns of smallmouth in the Susquehanna River than our defensive playbook.”
Sources close to Simmons reveal that during his lowest points in Brooklyn amid the boos, the injury rehab, and the relentless criticism fishing was his only solace. “That was his therapy,” said a longtime confidant. “He’d come back from a three day trip to a cabin upstate and be a different person. Clear-eyed, relaxed. We all knew it. The basketball stuff was just a job, a stressful one he was really good at once but grew to resent. The water was his real life.” His decision crystallized during the last offseason. While other stars were playing in pro-am leagues or posting intense workout videos, Simmons spent six weeks competing in unpublicized regional bass tournaments under a pseudonym. He reportedly won two of them, catching the eye of scouts from Major League Fishing who had no idea the talented amateur angler “Big Ben Reels” was actually an NBA All-Star.
The Business of the Bite: A New Kind of Max Deal
Ben Simmons isn’t just retiring to fish; he’s launching a full fledged, multi-platform empire. The financials, while a step down from his NBA peak, are nothing to scoff at and come with none of the athletic pressure. His partnership with Bass Pro Shops is a landmark endorsement, reportedly worth $5 million annually, making him the new face of their hunting and fishing division. He has his own signature series of rods and reels, the “Simmons Silence Series,” marketed as ultra-sensitive gear for the patient angler. He’s also launched a lifestyle brand, “FBLifestyle,” which sells high-end apparel, custom tackle boxes, and eco-friendly gear. His YouTube channel, created just yesterday, has already garnered 2 million subscribers, with his first video, “Cranking for Monster Bass: A Beginner’s Guide,” racking up 10 million views in 12 hours.
Furthermore, Simmons has secured a reality TV deal with Netflix for a docu-series, “Reel Time with Ben Simmons,” which will follow his first year on the MLF tour, blending high stakes tournament fishing with his personal journey away from the NBA spotlight. Industry analysts estimate his first-year earnings from endorsements, media, and tournament winnings could approach $15-20 million. “He’s transcending sports,” said a branding expert. “He’s not a retired athlete trying to fish. He’s a cultural figure who chose authenticity over obligation. In the era of side hustles and personal brands, he’s the ultimate icon.”
The Reaction: Laughter, Shock, and a Touch of Envy
The response from the sports world has been a spectacle in itself, ranging from utter bewilderment to genuine admiration. Former teammate and noted trash-talker Joel Embiid tweeted, “I knew he was scared to shoot… but I didn’t know he was scared of a 9 to 5. Enjoy the worms, my brother. #FBLifestyle.” Charles Barkley on TNT’s Inside the NBA roared with laughter before saying, “You know what? Good for him! The man was miserable playing basketball! He found something he loves and he’s getting paid for it. Most of us just complain on TV for a check.” NBA analysts are dissecting his career as a cautionary tale of pressure and psychology, while outdoor networks are celebrating him as the most significant crossover star their sport has ever seen.
Perhaps the most poignant reactions have come from fellow athletes who have struggled with the mental toll of professional sports. Tennis star Naomi Osaka posted, “Choosing your peace is the ultimate power move. Respect, Ben.” The narrative has swiftly shifted from “biggest bust in NBA history” to “man who bravely walked away from the machine to be happy.” In a single day, Simmons has rewritten his own legacy from a sports disappointment to a pop culture symbol of radical self determination.
The Ultimate Swimmer’s Tale: A Legacy Recast
Ben Simmons’ basketball career will forever be analyzed as a puzzle of talent and temperament. But his retirement has instantly reframed that story. No longer is he the player who failed to live up to his potential; he is the athlete who had the audacity to define potential on his own terms. He traded the roar of 20,000 fans for the quiet lap of water against a boat. He swapped film sessions for studying sonar maps. He exchanged the pressure of being a #1 pick for the simple, measurable goal of landing a five pound largemouth.
In the end, Ben Simmons didn’t quit. He simply changed venues. The court was never his natural habitat. The water always was. He spent years being analyzed for what he couldn’t do shoot a jumper, dominate in the playoffs, meet the sky high expectations of others. Now, the only thing he needs to hook is a fish. As his new tagline for Bass Pro Shops declares, “It’s not an escape. It’s an arrival.” Ben Simmons, professional fisherman, has finally come home.