Ben Simmons: ‘I almost retired over summer’

In an hour and half talk with Tommy Alter of the “New Man and The Three” podcast, Ben Simmons and Cam Johnson talk about a lot of things, including injuries and trade season.

In speaking with Tommy Alter of the New Man and the Three podcast (previously Old Man, but J.J. Redick moved on to greener pastures, Ben Simmons spoke of how he had become so frustrated by his recovery following back surgery that he considered giving up the game.

“There were times, last summer, when I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this. I might have to stop playing,’” Simmons said. “I had to bring that up in conversation and think about it, just because physically it’s tough, but mentally it’s just so hard to return from an injury like that and go through the process of rehabbing a second summer in a row.”

Last summer was indeed his second summer of rehab and recovery. Simmons first underwent surgery on his lower back on May 5, 2022, then again on March 14 of last year. Although the second surgery was less complicated than the first, it still required a lengthy rehab.

Simmons described the difference between the two surgeries. While the first surgery took a “lot of relief off and pain off my nerve,” the second, he said, was “completely different like I felt like I had a new body.” Still, though, getting back into what some might call basketball shape or what he called “re-learn everything” became “mentally frustrating and draining.”

He described the stress this way:

“You’re doing the most simple exercise you could possibly do… and you just gotta be okay with that process with it, and just rebuilding, and understanding that your body needs time to heal and relearn everything,” Simmons said.

It was the mental aspect, per Simmons, that made him consider retirement.

“Physically, it’s tough, but mentally it’s just so hard to return from an injury and go through the process of rehabbing. a second summer in a row.”

Now though?

“I can’t just stop. Like, I’m not just gonna stop. I wanna compete, I’m a competitor, I like to play basketball, I like to win,” Simmons said. “And that was my time to win. I had so many losses in the last two and a half years, I was like, no, I need this one.”

Simmons comments were part of a wide ranging commentary between Alter and both he and Cam Johnson who also joined the undated back-and-forth. In addition to talking about his surgeries, Simmons and Johnson spoke about the negative effect sports betting has had on the game…

“That’s ruining so many games,” said Simmons. “You have fans not even caring about the game. yelling ‘I need a rebound.’”

Johnson agreed saying that fans betting a parlay will take it out on him if he doesn’t reach the bettor’s numbers. “I came up a rebound short and they’re threatening me!”

“It takes a little bit of the joy away just hearing that stuff,” SImmons added. “but what can we do?”

“My main concern,” noted Johnson, was for the physical safety of the players. “I don’t ever want it to infringe on a player’s safety. People can get emotional, say this, say that. They lost their money, whatever. people win.”

In general, Simmons said he’s still bewildered by fan reactions.

Simmons did surprise a few people by complimenting Philadelphia fans despite the way he was treated by 76ers fans…

“For me, going to a city like Philadelphia, was from Melbourne, Australia, went to Louisiana, like completely different places. The fans, I didn’t appreciate the fans enough,” Simmons said

“The fans of Philadelphia are incredible. You always want to play for a team that has a good fan base, whether they’re booing or whatever,” Simmons continued. “You want fans to care, you want the arena packed. So, just having that experience in Philadelphia was amazing. I’m so grateful to have played there and got to experience the city of Philly.”

And the Brooklyn Nets?

“We’re here for a reason and we’re going to try to do everything we can to make an impact and win games and build Brooklyn up,” Simmons added.

In the same vein, Johnson spoke about the pressure of trade season.

“People watch ‘trade season,’” said Johnson. “when NBA trades are going down. They grab their pop corn and it’s ‘where’s such-and-such going?’ They mock trade everything to the moon and back. I don’t think they fully realize you’re playing with our lives. You’re moving us from one side of the country to the other. We have our own families, we have our own lives, we have our own set ups, our people who we are comfortable with us around us.”

Johnson admitted that NBA players are paid “well enough” to deal with “these problems” but…

“You’re human. You’re going to feel these things,” said Johnson. “It’s really funny to us. We talk about this in the locker room. People .. don’t really understand what comes along with being traded. Your whole life. You get a whole new team. You’re expected to wear a new jersey two days later, three days later, figure out everything on the fly.”

“We deal with a lot. We get paid well but we deal with a lot as humans,” Simmons added after joking he’s never had to move across country, his only trade only forcing him to to drive from Philly to Brooklyn.

• Ben Simmons Opens Up About His Battle Returning From Injuries and the Philadelphia 76ers (Video) – Tommy Alter – New Man and the Three