Ben Simmons could return to the Philadelphia 76ers, with Jeff Teague urging Rich Paul to make it happen

Ben Simmons has not played in the NBA since May 2025, sidelined by severe back injuries during his one season with the LA Clippers. But his name is back in circulation, and the conversation has taken a nostalgic turn: could Simmons make his comeback in Philadelphia, the city where it all began?

The idea may sound unlikely given the history, but it is gaining traction. Jeff Teague, speaking on a recent episode of the Club 520 podcast, made his feelings clear. « I lowkey want him to go back to the Sixers now, » Teague said. « They lowkey need to make that happen, if Rich can make that happen, because what you did for Gary Trent is nothing. » The comment was a direct nudge to Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, suggesting that if the agent could handle Gary Trent Jr.‘s situation, engineering a Simmons-Sixers reunion should be well within reach.

A complicated history, a potential second chapter

The relationship between Simmons and Philadelphia was once one of the most promising in the NBA. Drafted first overall in 2016, he won Rookie of the Year, earned multiple All-Star selections and All-NBA nods, and signed a max contract with the franchise. Then came the 2021 playoffs, the infamous Game 7 collapse against the Atlanta Hawks, and a very public, very painful fallout that defined the offseason and eventually led to his trade out of Philadelphia.

That backstory makes the reunion narrative all the more compelling — and complicated.

Rich Paul, for his part, has not been quiet. The agent recently stated publicly that he does not believe Simmons is done as a player, and went further by suggesting a potential path forward. According to Paul, Simmons has been looking at his career the wrong way, and if he fully committed to a pick-and-roll big man role, he could realistically become a $30 million-a-year player again. That kind of framing signals that Klutch is actively thinking about how to repackage and relaunch their client.

No formal contract talks between Simmons and the 76ers have been confirmed. This remains firmly in the realm of speculation, driven by public comments from Teague and Paul rather than any reported organizational interest from Philadelphia. Still, the timing is notable: the 76ers are in a difficult stretch, and Simmons — healthy or not — remains one of the most uniquely talented defensive players of his generation.

Whether nostalgia, necessity, or Rich Paul’s dealmaking can turn this narrative into reality remains to be seen. But the conversation has started, and in the NBA, that is often how these things begin.