Ben Simmons Buys Stake in Pro Fishing Team Ahead of NBA Comeback Attempt

Free-agent forward Ben Simmons has bought a stake in a professional fishing organization as he prepares to potentially return to the NBA.

South Florida Sails Angling Club, a group in the Sports Fishing Championship, announced Tuesday that Simmons had purchased an ownership stake in the team, per Sam Jane of The Athletic.

"I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward," Simmons said as part of the announcement, via Jane. "Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is."

Simmons appeared in 51 combined games with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft earned Rookie of the Year honors with the Philadelphia 76ers, making three straight All-Star appearances in Philadelphia from 2018-21.

Simmons eventually missed his 2021-22 campaign due to a holdout as well as a back injury that required surgery. He was traded by the 76ers to the Brooklyn Nets in Sept. 2022 and continued to struggle with availability before he underwent a second procedure on his back to close out the 2023-24 season.

Simmons reportedly received interest from the New York Knicks during the 2025 offseason, but wasn't signed by any team before training camp started.

The 29-year-old recently told Andscape's Marc J. Spears that he hopes to be on a roster "maybe halfway through this year, if not next season."

In the meantime, Simmons will begin his new tenure as an owner of the South Florida Sails Angling Club.