Ben Simmons signs with a fishing team while waiting to return to the NBA

Ben Simmons, a three-time NBA All-Star, has taken a temporary turn in his sports career. While he continues to work towards returning to the courts, the player has ventured into the world of professional fishing as the lead operator of the South Florida Sails team, competing in the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC).

The SFC, founded in 2021, brings together 16 teams of professional deep-sea fishermen, with a presence in states like Texas, Florida, New York, and Massachusetts. The clubs compete in tournaments scored based on catches of species such as white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, and striped marlin. Simmons joins a group of renowned owners, including golfers Scottie Scheffler, Harold Varner III, and Taylor Gooch; NFL figures like Randy Moss and Raheem Mostert; and music and NASCAR celebrities like Brian Kelley and Austin Dillon.

"It's a very technical sport, and when you really try it, you realize how demanding it is," Simmons explained to Andscape from Los Angeles. "The boats cost a million dollars, you spend whole days at sea... it's tough, tedious, and exciting all at the same time. It's a world you have to experience to understand."

Although he will not be active in the NBA in December, Simmons remains focused on his comeback. Since being selected as the first pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, his career has been marked by absences and injuries. He has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game in 383 games with the 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers. Last season, playing limited minutes with the Clippers, he recorded 2.9 points and 3.8 rebounds while dealing with back issues.

Without pause in pursuit of an epic return

Currently, Simmons trains six days a week, combining basketball, strength, and rehabilitation, with the goal of reaching the best possible physical condition. His aim is to be ready to sign with a team close to the All-Star break, if he maintains progress in his recovery.

"I don't want to be in the NBA just to occupy a spot; I want to compete at the highest level and give my all for the sport," Simmons asserted. "If I played right now, I could fit in, but it's not just about being there. My goal is to reach my peak and compete at the level I truly want."

Meanwhile, his involvement in professional fishing allows him to explore a personal passion while continuing to build the discipline and patience that could strengthen his future return to the NBA.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ben Simmons "ficha" por un equipo... ¡de pesca! mientras espera volver a la NBA