Ben Simmons reveals comeback plan

Australian star Ben Simmons is planning a return to basketball after spending a year away from the game and 'finding himself again'.

The 29-year-old former NBA No. 1 Draft pick remains one of the most talked-about players in world basketball. While he says he has no firm plan on where he'll play next, he is determined to make a comeback.

"I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my arse on the court, and then the team realising that my abilities will be needed,” Simmons said via Men’s Health.

"Maybe I'll go back to Philly (Philadelphia) … Miami would be nice. And not because it's Miami. I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organisation, I like the culture."

Despite a string of injury setbacks and his time away from the NBA, Simmons said his love for the game has never wavered.

"I think this is just what I'm choosing to do, like, no one's forcing me," he continued.

"It's never been about, do I love playing basketball? That's never a question. That's in my DNA. I think sometimes you get over all the bulls*** ... that comes with it, though."

The prospect of Simmons returning to Australia has been raised by NBL commentators Damon Lowery and Andrew Gaze, who have both urged the Melbourne-born star to consider playing in the league.

“The number one overall pick in the Draft… the three-time NBA All-Star, the dude that made the NBA First Team All Defence twice … Ben Simmons,” Lowery said in May.

“What if a healthy Ben Simmons showed up in NBL27? Can you imagine? It would be carnage.”

“I think this [League] would be a great platform for him to come back and continue his career in basketball. He's a superstar,” Gaze said last month.

“He's an NBA All-Star, and provided his body is in the right shape and he's comfortable where he's at, he would dominate this competition.”

Simmons last played for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024–25 NBA Deason. He is a three-time NBA All-Star and former NBA Rookie of the Year.