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By Ricardo Sandoval
Contributing Sports Writer
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Former NBA All-Star and No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Ben Simmons, is reportedly considering retiring from the game of basketball.
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The guard is currently a free agent, and apparently, outside of signing with a new team, he is also considering retirement.
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Stefan Bondy, who covers the New York Knicks for the New York Post, shared the report on Wednesday.
"Ben Simmons has generated interest from the Knicks and another team but is also questioning whether he even wants to continue playing in the NBA next season," Bondy wrote.
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Simmons, 29, has not been the player many thought he would be when coming out of LSU. He was initially impressive with his stellar size, ability to handle the ball, distribute to his teammates and defend at a high level.
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However, for the past handful of seasons, injuries, including a chronic back and nerve problem, have caused him to miss significant time.
Not only have injuries kept Simmons out, but he has also experienced a significant "mental block" following criticism of his shooting, which he has attributed to his back problems.
The Australian native was never a shoot-first type of player, but that has been far from the case lately. His field goal attempts have gone down from his rookie year on.
In his first year in the NBA, Simmons averaged 12.3 field goal attempts per game. Last season, with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, he averaged only 4.4 field goal attempts. In his first four seasons, Simmons averaged more than 10 field goal attempts per game, earned three All-Star selections, and captured Rookie of the Year honors along the way.
Since then, it's all been downhill.
He missed the entire 2021-22 season due to his back injury and has played in a combined 108 games over the past three seasons.
Simmons was highly touted coming out of LSU and was even compared to the likes of Magic Johnson and LeBron James. That has been far from the case for the former No. 1 pick, and now he is reportedly contemplating retirement after only seven NBA seasons.
As things stand, Simmons has been linked to the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings, both of which need a backup point guard. If he decides to continue playing, look for either team to sign him up.
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