Nets' Ben Simmons Says He's Not Thinking Next Contract: 'F--k What Happens' in NBA FA

Coming off multiple injury-riddled seasons, Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons is singularly focused on his performance during the upcoming season.

Simmons, who is entering the final season of a five-year, $177.2 million contract he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, told Brian Lewis of the New York Post this week that he isn't concerned about what the future holds for him as a free agent:

"So f–k what happens next year, and what contract I get, if I get a contract. I want to do my job while I'm here and be professional and help these guys in any way I can. So who knows? I want to play as long as my body will allow me. So if it's one year, five years, six years, I don't know what it is. But I just want to keep going until I can't anymore."

Since playing in 58 games for the Sixers in 2020-21, Simmons has missed a combined 189 games over the past three seasons.

Originally the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, Simmons missed his entire rookie season due to injury before debuting with the 76ers in 2017-18 and winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Simmons was then named an All-Star in each of the next three seasons due in large part to his defensive prowess, as he earned two NBA All-Defensive First Team selections and finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2021.

After shooting 34.2 percent from the free-throw line during the 2021 playoffs, Simmons became something of a scapegoat for the 76ers' postseason shortcomings, and he decided to hold out until Philly traded him to Brooklyn as part of a package for James Harden.

He has failed to make much of an impact with the Nets, though, appearing in just 57 games for the franchise and averaging only 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.

His production in Brooklyn is a far cry from what he did in four seasons with the Sixers, as he averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals.

Simmons has always been somewhat one-dimensional offensively since he has only made a total of five three-point field goals in his career and is a 58.9 percent shooter from the charity stripe.

His 6'10" frame allows him to drive to the basket with explosiveness when he is healthy, though, plus he was among the better playmakers in the league with the 76ers.

Most notably, Simmons' length makes him an elite perimeter defender, which figures to appeal to at least some teams in free agency next offseason.

Simmons is coming off a season in which he only appeared in 15 games due to a back injury, though, and it is fair to wonder if durability is always going to be an issue with him.

The 28-year-old Aussie underwent a microscopic partial discectomy in March to help alleviate a pinched nerve in his lower back, and the hope is that he will be healthier this season than he has been in years as a result.

Last month, Simmons said that he hasn't suffered any setbacks, that he is healthy and feels "great and ready to go."

It seems unlikely that the Nets have a ton of interest in re-signing Simmons since they are rebuilding and going in a younger direction, but the 2024-25 season could be an audition of sorts for Simmons in terms of convincing other teams that he is worth a look in free agency.