Former Nets guard Ben Simmons wins title in pro fishing league
The Brooklyn Nets weren't able to accomplish much when Ben Simmons was in town, but he's found a way to win titles outside of the NBA.
The Brooklyn Nets had visions of winning a championship when they traded for then- Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons in exchange for James Harden while Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were in town. Brooklyn wasn't able to make the kind of deep run in the playoffs that many were expecting with Simmons in the fold, but he has found a way to lead his team to a title in a different way. The South Florida Sails, a team in the Sport Fishing Championship that Simmons has an ownership stake in, came away with a victory in the 2026 SFC Walker’s Cay Open Championship earlier this week.
Simmons, who did not play in the NBA this season as he seemingly awaited for the right opportunity to continue his career, purchased an ownership stake in the Sails so that he could continue his love for fishing in the meantime. "I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward. Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is," Simmons said in a statement when his ownership stake was confirmed.
Simmons' love for fishing, widely known as the NBA space, began during his time growing up in Australia. Simmons, 29 , has not officially called it a career just yet despite the fact that he didn't sign with a team during the 2025-26 season as he was hoping to continue playing basketball. It wasn't for a lack of trying as the New York Knicks reportedly offered Simmons a contract for the veteran's minimum, but it seemed like he is taking his time to decide to figure out his next step.
Simmons played 90 games (69 starts) in his three seasons with the Nets as he tried to play through the bevy of injuries that he sustained over the course of his career, especially in his back. Brooklyn ended up waiving Simmons at the trade deadline of the 2024-25 season and he subsequently signed a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers before going into the following offseason as a free-agent. Big bites.