Ben Simmons has had another tumultuous season, as he has struggled to find consistency in the Nets rotation. Off the court, meanwhile, the forward has made a significant career choice.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Simmons and his agency, Klutch Sports, have decided to mutually part ways. Simmons first signed with Klutch before entering the 2016 draft and has been with the agency for his entire NBA career. A source told Shelburne that Simmons needed a “fresh start” moving forward.
Early in his career, Simmons appeared on the verge of stardom, winning NBA’s Rookie of the Year award and making three All-Star games between 2018 and ’21. That included signing a five-year, $177 million extension with the Sixers in 2019, a deal that Klutch negotiated.
However, things went downhill following the 2021 season. Simmons struggled in the 2021 playoffs, and his tension with the Philadelphia organization combined with injuries led to him not playing at all in the 2021-22 season. After being traded to the Nets midseason last year, Simmons made his Brooklyn debut at the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
Despite a new team, Simmons has struggled to gain traction, leading to a loss of playing time. He hasn’t played in a game since February 15 as he deals with more knee and back injuries, and his future in Brooklyn remains up in the air. On the season, Simmons is averaging a career-low 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.
Klutch Sports is best known for representing LeBron James, with Rich Paul as the agency’s founder.
