Ben Simmons Bio: Net Worth, Salary, and Professional Career

Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player who is a gifted player and competitor with an unusual mixture of size, passing, and defense. At 6 ft 10 in, Simmons can play point guard/power forward, and he became just the third Melbourne-born player to be the No. 1 NBA Draft pick. Simmons arrived on the scene with a triple-double and an All-Star caliber play; after watching a standout college season, Magic Johnson even called Simmons “the best all-around player since LeBron James.” Simmons was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and was a three‑time NBA All-Star from 2019 to 2021. Simmons is known as a playmaker and a defender. In 2020, he was the NBA's steals champion; Simmons made contributions to both sides of the court.

In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Simmons has used his international opportunity and recognition to create brands and luxury products and offer benefits to potential philanthropy to cement his recognized status internationally. Simmons has accumulated a career that has inspired interest and imagination for the game of basketball; Simmons' diversity in playing style and character, and marketable name have inspired and influenced many players who aspire and continue to grow at young ages in countries from all over the world.

Ben Simmons' Early Life

Ben Simmons was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, to American-born dad, Dave, and Australian-born mum, Julie. Simmons' dad played college basketball in Oklahoma and played professionally, including in Australia, while Simmons's mum was a cheerleader. Simmons grew up in a blended family of five siblings, with both mum and dad introducing him to sports at an early age. The 6'10" forward began participating in youth basketball before the age of seven, while living in Newcastle, NSW.

He moved back to Melbourne by the age of ten and joined an affiliated club called the Knox Raiders. Simmons played rugby and Australian rules football in his youth, but by Year 7, Simmons was displaying great talent for basketball and was named the MVP of his Whitefriars College team. Simmons was flagged as a prodigy from an early age. He was selected to attend the Australian Institute of Sport in 2012, and he moved to Montverde Academy in Florida in 2013 to compete against elite American basketball players. Simmons' outstanding high-school skills, including being awarded the national player of the year in 2015, caught the interest of LSU, ultimately beginning Simmons' journey toward briefly making the NBA.

Ben Simmons' Personal Information

Ben Simmons is a well-known professional basketball player for his unique size, speed, and style of play. Simmons has dual citizenship in the US and Australia, as he was born in Melbourne, Australia. Simmons stands tall at 6'10", which is magnificent, and he is described on the court both as a power forward and a point guard. Simmons can also be seen off the court with his clothes, endorsements with Nike, and media ties with high-profile influencers, one being Kendall Jenner, and another is media personality Maya Jama. Simmons is somewhat involved in charitable functions through his charitable foundation. Simmons is still somewhat engaged with basketball despite injuries and controversies, and outsiders' opinions. Simmons is uniquely Simmons for his length, defense, and versatility. Simmons' life, story, and lifestyle make Simmons a global icon transcending the sport of basketball.

Ben Simmons' Personal Life

Simmons, as of right now, still has some privacy surrounding his private life. Simmons had a previous, private life, before getting engaged to the British television personality connected with the working title TV industry, Maya Jama, in late 2021. The couple announced their engagement publicly, but Simmons and Jama called off the engagement in August 2022. The media has reported on several occasions regarding Simmons having a new girlfriend, and in this regard, in early 2023, People reported Simmons has moved on with actress Eiza González.

Simmons has dual citizenship in the United States and Australia. He is extremely proud of his Australian heritage and has always been a long-time supporter of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Simmons started The Ben Simmons Family Foundation to raise and distribute funds for education and youth sports, and he partnered with a nonprofit organization called RISE to develop social-justice leadership programming in the communities throughout New York City. Simmons endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign during the 2020 United States presidential election as well. Simmons' social interests personally are ultimately likely a combination of charitable work, cultural pride, and any new desire for community engagement beyond his celebrity position.

Ben Simmons' Parents

Ben Simmons parents are Dave Simmons and Julie Simmons. His father, Dave, hails from New York and played college basketball at Oklahoma City University, but turned pro and spent most of his career with the Melbourne Tigers playing in Australia. Dave also coached in the Australian National Basketball League, which offered Ben Simmons an early introduction to the basketball world. Julie Simmons, Ben’s mother, is Australian, and she was a cheerleader for Dave’s team, when the two first met. Julie similarly supported Ben's endeavors in sport from a young age. Simmons grew up between Melbourne and Newcastle, and he frequently points to his parents for instilling his work ethic and discipline. Dave and Julie Simmons had a strong sporting background, and their marriage combined Dave's basketball experience and Julie's athleticism & performance, artistry came together to create Simmons' all-around game.

Ben Simmons' Girlfriend

Although Ben Simmons has never been married, that hasn't stopped him from engaging in several relationships in the public eye. Ben Simmons girlfriend was Kendall Jenner in 2018, at least first in the public eye; People confirmed in May 2018 that Jenner "was reportedly dating NBA player Ben Simmons." Simmons had an on-and-off relationship with Jenner in 2019. After that, Simmons began dating British television presenter Maya Jama in 2021, and Simmons proposed to Jama in December 2021. However, the couple were quite reserved about their engagement, and ultimately confirmed that they broke up in August 2022. After the break-up, Simmons was reportedly "moving on" with actress Eiza González, according to People, in early 2023. Simmons and his partners have lived high-profile lives where they often shared time together at events with the opportunity of being observed together as a couple, whether that was through social media or receiving media attention, such as Maya Jama attending games with Simmons, and occasionally having collective appearances, publicly.

Ben Simmons Contract

Simmons was selected as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, signed a four-year standard rookie contract with approximately $26.6 million guaranteed. In July 2019, the 76ers and Simmons agreed to a five-year extension reportedly worth in the ballpark of $177 million that covered the 2019-2024 seasons. Following the 2021-2022 season and a holdout on his Ben Simmons Contract, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. In February 2025, Simmons signed a new one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers for the veteran's minimum of around $1.08 million for the 2024-2025 season. Ben Simmons' contract trajectory, rookie deal + big extension + minimum move, has received media attention due to Simmons' big extension, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league on a contract reported at that time also at around $177 million, while his subsequent moves show a shifting narrative.

Ben Simmons Salary

For the 2024-25 season, Ben Simmons' salary was a total of $39 million on the salary cap, with his full amount of salary paid between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons does not have a contract yet for the 2025-26 season, and he will have eyes on him, both from fans and analysts, from the time that Simmons has to make another decision about whether to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers or to contemplate other offers with another team; regardless of whichever team he chooses to work with, his next contract will be indicative of his form goals and potential, where whichever contract he signs will be defining time for the next part of his career, irrespective of the franchise that he signs for.

Ben Simmons' Net Worth

It is estimated that Ben Simmons net worth is likely around $80 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. This net worth consists of NBA salary and endorsement deals. Simmons signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2016, which provided Simmons with custom Nike sneakers. While we do not know exactly how Simmons is invested, Ben Simmons net worth is from appearances and the media. He started business ventures in his foundation, the equipment donation project. In total, Simmons has a net worth in the tens of millions of dollars based on his salary and endorsements, and in particular, his contract with Nike.

Ben Simmons Career

Ben Simmons started his career as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. After missing his rookie season because of an injury, Simmons returned to dominate and won the Rookie of the Year award in 2018. Ben Simmons has been credited for the many aspects of play he brings; his defense, passing, rebounding, and awareness have allowed him to become a three-time NBA All-Star.

Simmons is now with the Los Angeles Clippers after a time with the Brooklyn Nets, but injuries and shooting have limited his progression through the NBA. Simmons' overall skill set and versatility will always keep him in the league, and he is battling daily to get back to being as close to his original form as a two-way NBA player as possible.

Ben Simmons High School Career

After arriving from Australia, Ben Simmons spent his junior and senior years at Montverde Academy. At Montverde, he was dominant. In his junior year, Ben Simmons' stats were 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, and as a senior, he blew up to 28.0 points, with 11.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. Simmons was instrumental in Montverde winning a number of High School National Tournament championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015 while earning MVP honors in every tournament he played in. He also earned national honors; in 2015, he was chosen Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and McDonald's All-American, which acknowledged his ability on and off the court. Simmons’ success in high school gave him a five-star recruit designation and made him the No. 1 player in his class.

Ben Simmons College Career

Simmons played one season (2015-2016) of college basketball at LSU. He made an immediate impact: as a freshman, he averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in 34.9 minutes. With these all-around numbers, he led LSU in most categories except for three-point shooting and free-throw shooting, which still continue to be his kryptonite. Simmons was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and was selected for the All-SEC first team and consensus All-American lists.

He became the first LSU player to score 43 points in a game since Shaquille O'Neal dropped the same number against Northern Arizona on December 28, 1991. Although personally successful, LSU did not make the NCAA Tournament . After that single season, Simmons declared for the 2016 NBA Draft, which eliminated Ben Simmons' college eligibility.

Ben Simmons Professional Career

Philadelphia 76ers (2016–2022): Simmons was selected 1st overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the 76ers. Simmons missed the entirety of the 2016–17 season due to a foot injury, but he made his debut in October 2017, scoring 18 points with 10 rebounds in his first game. At that point, he started to be recognized as a star. Simmons went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. Simmons was a playmaker for Philadelphia with many triple-doubles and was selected 3 times to the NBA All-Star and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Simmons also led the NBA in steals per game in the 2019–20 season. Following the 2021 season, Simmons infamously held out for a new contract. After some contentious disputes with Philadelphia, Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022.

Brooklyn Nets (2022–2024): Simmons' tenure with the Brooklyn Nets began in 2022. In his first partial season, Simmons struggled to regain his form, averaging 6.9 points per game, which was a career low. Simmons had recurring back issues that kept him from playing the entire 2022–23 season. In late 2023, Simmons returned to New York and played 15 games during the 2023-24 season with average stats of 6.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 5.7 APG, similar to his prior season. Simmons was still a significant trade asset for the Nets.

Los Angeles Clippers (2024–present): On February 9, 2024, Simmons was traded to the Clippers. He made his Clippers debut against the Denver Nuggets on February 19, 2024, scoring 12 points and adding 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals in an overtime victory. Simmons signed a one-year deal for the 2024-25 NBA season with the Clippers. Simmons's role has been as a reserve, mainly a ball-handler and defender. Simmons has played for three NBA franchises through these team movements, with his reputation as a playmaker and defender intact.

Ben Simmons Shoes

Simmons has had an affiliation with Nike basketball shoes for most of his career, signing a Nike endorsement deal in 2016. For the most part, Simmons’ shoe collection reflects his partnership with Nike; he normally wears typical high-top versions designed for maximum support, which is intended to provide stability for quick cuts. Ben Simmons shoes have always been on the search. He has had a chance to sample several Nike performance models, but his branded releases were often more focused on on-court style as well. While fans who are drawn to Simmons’ footwear will often see him wearing white or leery Nike basketball sneakers on court, they may also sometimes see Simmons wearing limited-edition Nike Blazers reflecting some of his personal mottos and themes from his life.

Ben Simmons Jersey

Ben Simmons has had several jersey numbers in his career; on the Philadelphia 76ers or Brooklyn Nets, he famously wore 25. In Philadelphia, the number 25 came to represent Simmons. His jerseys have also included special editions like Team Australia or All-Star games. It is commonplace for fans to identify Simmons' on-court appearance with his name and number on the Sixers and Nets uniforms. Ben Simmons' jersey in Clippers also reflects the significance of number 25 in his career.

Ben Simmons Awards and Achievements

Simmons has not yet experienced an NBA Championship or MVP, but his All-Star selections and defensive awards, in conjunction with the elite status he established over the course of several peak seasons, demonstrate he was a high-level player. He earned Gold as a member of Australia's junior team in the FIBA Oceania Championship, 2013, at the International level of the game. He earned the highest levels of recognition at the high school level, including McDonald's All-American, Naismith Player of the Year, a championship example of dominating as a high school player at the highest level, indicating he was one of the best high school players nationally.

All of the evidence confirms Simmons' dominance in the game of basketball, particularly at the highest levels of the game. He continued building on significant dominance in high school basketball as a great example. Ben's achievements throughout his career are mentioned in the table: