2016 First Overall Pick Is at a Crossroads: Could the Knicks Be His Final Shot?
The basketball world has grown accustomed to uncertainty surrounding Ben Simmons. However, never has the question been this unpredictable: play for the Knicks or walk away entirely. Reports circulating this week revealed Simmons is seriously considering retirement. Citing both his physical wear and the mental toll of an up-and-down career. Yet amid the speculation, the New York Knicks have emerged as one of the few franchises willing to extend a hand.
Drafted first overall in 2016, Simmons entered the NBA with generational expectations. His size, court vision, and defensive prowess suggested a player destined to redefine the point forward role. However, the years since have been turbulent. Back injuries, confidence struggles, and a public fallout with the Philadelphia 76ers derailed what once looked like a guaranteed Hall of Fame trajectory. Stints with Brooklyn and subsequent absences from the court have left his future hanging by a thread.
Now, as the 2025–26 season approaches, the former LSU Tiger faces a choice: fight for redemption or close the book entirely. At first glance, Simmons and the Knicks appear to be an unlikely pairing. Yet, New York’s interest reflects both pragmatism and potential upside. For one, Simmons could be signed on a minimum contract. This would limit financial risk while offering depth at a position the Knicks are still shoring up.
More importantly, new head coach Mike Brown has experience integrating versatile playmakers into his offensive system. If Simmons were willing to embrace a reduced role, facilitating second units, anchoring defensively, and pushing tempo, he could become a valuable puzzle piece on a Knicks roster already laced with stars like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges. For Simmons, the appeal is obvious. Madison Square Garden, the brightest stage in basketball, and a chance to silence critics by helping a contending team chase its first championship in decades. Such an opportunity may be his last.
Still, this is no simple reclamation project. Simmons’s body has broken down repeatedly, and questions about his passion for the game continue to persist. His reluctance to shoot, once a quirk, eventually became a career-defining flaw. The Knicks, who thrive on grit and resilience, cannot afford to carry a player lacking commitment. The front office knows this.
Sources suggest their offer hinges on Simmons proving not just his health, but his willingness to fully buy into a limited role. For a franchise haunted by years of questionable roster moves, this decision demands caution. Ben Simmons’s decision won’t just shape his own career—it could ripple across the Knicks’ season. If he accepts the challenge, the pairing has the potential to be one of basketball’s great redemption stories, unfolding beneath the Garden lights. If he chooses retirement, it will mark a sobering end to one of the NBA’s most enigmatic journeys. Either way, the next chapter for Simmons will be decisive. The Knicks are waiting at the door, ready to see if he steps through.
