From NBA All-Star to Angling Entrepreneur: Ben Simmons’ New Passion
Ben Simmons, once a basketball wunderkind who earned three All-Star selections in his first five NBA seasons, has navigated a dramatic career shift at just 29 years old. The former first overall draft pick hasn’t stepped onto the court this season, but he’s made significant waves elsewhere by purchasing an ownership stake in the Sports Fishing Championship’s South Florida Sails Angling Club. Growing up in Australia, fishing became a formative part of Simmons’ life, creating a foundation for this unexpected pivot. “I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward,” Simmons explained in a recent statement. “Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is.” This career evolution represents a heartfelt return to a childhood passion, transforming what was once a casual pastime into a serious business venture.
Simmons describes the Sports Fishing Championship with the enthusiasm of someone who’s found his true calling, comparing it to disruptive sports enterprises like LIV Golf and Formula 1. He explains it as “the first real competitive sport fishing championship” featuring 16 teams (with plans for expansion) competing across various tournaments within a structured point system. The competition focuses on prized catches including white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, and striped marlin, each worth different point values. For Simmons, this represents not just a business opportunity but a chance to elevate a sport he deeply respects. The competitive framework brings structure and visibility to an activity often viewed as merely recreational, potentially transforming public perception of fishing as a professional sport requiring skill, strategy, and endurance.
The former NBA star speaks about fishing with genuine reverence, acknowledging its status as a “niche sport” while emphasizing its hidden complexities. “It’s one of those worlds where you just got to kind of experience it, get into it and see what it’s about,” Simmons told Andscape. He paints a vivid picture of an elite sporting culture where competitors utilize million-dollar vessels and spend days at sea, combining technical precision with physical endurance. His description reveals a fascinating parallel between the highest levels of basketball and competitive fishing – both require dedication, specialized knowledge, and mental fortitude. Simmons seems particularly drawn to the technical aspects of fishing, suggesting that the analytical mindset that once made him a defensive basketball standout translates well to this new arena where strategy and patience are paramount.
Simmons’ basketball journey has been nothing short of tumultuous, making his transition to the fishing world all the more intriguing. After being selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, his early career showed tremendous promise. In Philadelphia, he emerged as a triple-double threat, averaging an impressive 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game. However, injuries and personal challenges took their toll. He missed his entire rookie season due to injury and later sat out the 2021-22 campaign amid a contentious holdout and additional health issues. The breaking point came when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the high-profile James Harden deal – a move that coincided with a dramatic decline in his on-court production. During 90 games with Brooklyn across four seasons, his averages fell to 6.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game. A brief 18-game stint with the Los Angeles Clippers last season saw his numbers decrease even further, seemingly marking the conclusion of his once-promising basketball career.
What makes Simmons’ story particularly compelling is how it challenges conventional narratives about professional athletes. Rather than continuing to struggle in a basketball career marked by diminishing returns and increasing criticism, he’s pivoted toward an entirely different passion. This move demonstrates remarkable self-awareness and courage – qualities not always associated with high-profile athletes facing career downturns. The fishing industry offers Simmons not just a business opportunity but potentially a healthier environment for his wellbeing. Professional basketball subjects players to constant scrutiny, with performance metrics dissected by millions. The fishing world, while still competitive, provides a different rhythm and relationship with success and failure. For someone who experienced the highest expectations in basketball from a young age, this shift may represent not just a new career but a more sustainable approach to life after being in the spotlight.
The evolution from NBA prodigy to fishing entrepreneur encapsulates a broader truth about human potential and reinvention. Simmons’ story reminds us that careers aren’t always linear progressions, and that apparent setbacks can lead to unexpected opportunities aligned with deeper personal interests. While basketball fans might view his trajectory as a cautionary tale of unfulfilled potential, from another perspective, it’s a story about rediscovering passion and redefining success on personal terms. At just 29 years old, Simmons has potentially decades ahead to build his legacy in this new arena. His unique position – bringing the visibility and business acumen developed in professional basketball to the fishing world – may ultimately prove more influential than had he remained solely within the NBA. As competitive fishing seeks to build its audience and professional structure, having a figure with Simmons’ background could accelerate the sport’s growth and help it reach new demographics, suggesting that his most significant contributions may still lie ahead, just in waters he never anticipated navigating.
