Ben Simmons Offers to Play for 76ers for Free

Ben Simmons, the former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, remains unsigned as a free agent well into the 2025-26 season, but he recently voiced a strong willingness to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, even without pay. In an Instagram comment on Tuesday, the 29-year-old guard-forward responded to a fan's question about rejoining the team on a minimum contract by saying he would "hoop there for free." Simmons, who began his career in Philadelphia in 2017 after missing his rookie season due to a foot injury, emphasized that his interest stems from deeper personal ties, while prioritizing his recovery from ongoing health issues.

The exchange followed Simmons liking a post last week suggesting he could fit well on the current 76ers roster amid their injury challenges. "It aint about the money, Id hoop there for free," Simmons wrote. "Its deeper than what they make yall believe, which is why I keep it pushing. Rn right now the focus is getting the body to 100 before putting my health on the line again like I have been the past few years." This marks a notable shift in tone from the contentious end to his time with the 76ers, where he held out of training camp and preseason in 2021,...